UK surname
A surname indicating one skilled or knowledgeable about something.
In the 1881 census there were 119 people recorded with the Knowling surname, ranking it #17,841 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 66, ranked #33,948, down from #17,841 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ealing, Chiswick, Ashburton and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Knowling is 148 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 44.5%.
1881 census count
119
Ranked #17,841
Modern count
66
2016, ranked #33,948
Peak year
1911
148 bearers
Map years
4
1881 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Knowling surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Knowling surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 82 | #19,317 |
| 1861 | historical | 91 | #22,206 |
| 1881 | historical | 119 | #17,841 |
| 1891 | historical | 136 | #19,601 |
| 1901 | historical | 123 | #20,248 |
| 1911 | historical | 148 | #18,023 |
| 1997 | modern | 73 | #30,306 |
| 1998 | modern | 70 | #30,968 |
| 1999 | modern | 79 | #30,243 |
| 2000 | modern | 74 | #30,785 |
| 2001 | modern | 71 | #30,907 |
| 2002 | modern | 64 | #32,007 |
| 2003 | modern | 64 | #32,056 |
| 2004 | modern | 61 | #32,581 |
| 2005 | modern | 58 | #33,094 |
| 2006 | modern | 58 | #33,433 |
| 2007 | modern | 56 | #33,875 |
| 2008 | modern | 60 | #33,743 |
| 2009 | modern | 60 | #33,989 |
| 2010 | modern | 63 | #34,002 |
| 2011 | modern | 62 | #34,045 |
| 2012 | modern | 65 | #33,964 |
| 2013 | modern | 67 | #33,939 |
| 2014 | modern | 65 | #34,082 |
| 2015 | modern | 66 | #33,976 |
| 2016 | modern | 66 | #33,948 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ealing, Chiswick, Ashburton, Preston, Buckfastleigh and West Ham,Wanstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ealing, Chiswick | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | Ashburton | Devon |
| 3 | Preston | Lancashire |
| 4 | Buckfastleigh | Devon |
| 5 | West Ham,Wanstead | Essex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Knowling surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Knowling, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Knowling surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Knowling household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Knowling is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Knowling is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Knowling, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Knowling has its origins in England, with records of the name dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cnoll" meaning hill or hillock, and "ing" meaning a dweller or inhabitant, essentially translating to "one who lives on a hill."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Knowling name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1170, where a Richard de Knoulling is mentioned. This suggests the name may have originated from a place name, potentially a settlement or manor named Knoulling or Knowling.
In the 13th century, the Knowling surname appears in various records across different counties in England. For instance, a Walter de Knoulling was documented in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1292, while a John de Knoulyng was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296.
The Knowling name has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was John Knowling, a 16th-century English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Gedney in Lincolnshire from 1556 until his death in 1617.
Another prominent individual with the Knowling surname was Richard Knowling, a 17th-century English botanist and apothecary. He was born in Wolverhampton in 1617 and is best known for his work on medicinal plants, publishing a treatise titled "The Botanists Guide Through the Counties of Britain" in 1675.
In the 18th century, Robert Knowling (1720-1782) was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. He rose to the rank of Admiral and is credited with capturing several French ships during his career.
Moving into the 19th century, William Knowling (1801-1867) was a notable English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the Gothic Revival style. Some of his notable works include St. Paul's Church in Ipswich and the Nottingham Arboretum.
Finally, in the early 20th century, Herbert Knowling (1879-1951) was a British Anglican priest and scholar who served as the Bishop of Burnley from 1929 until his retirement in 1949. He was also a prolific author, publishing works on theology and biblical studies.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Knowling surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 33 Knowlings recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.55x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Devon | 33 | 13.55x |
| Middlesex | 21 | 1.79x |
| Lancashire | 20 | 1.44x |
| Yorkshire | 19 | 1.64x |
| Somerset | 15 | 7.96x |
| Essex | 4 | 1.73x |
| Cornwall | 3 | 2.26x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.35x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.44x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 7.17x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.70x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 17 Knowlings recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.76x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Preston | 17 | 45.76x |
| Ashburton | 12 | 1034.48x |
| Castleford | 9 | 213.27x |
| Chiswick | 9 | 140.85x |
| Wells St Cuthbert Out | 8 | 526.32x |
| Tormoham | 7 | 67.90x |
| Wellington | 7 | 274.51x |
| Buckfastleigh | 5 | 446.43x |
| Manningham | 5 | 34.99x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 3 | 27.20x |
| Islington London | 3 | 2.64x |
| Leeds | 3 | 4.58x |
| Wolborough | 3 | 97.40x |
| Exeter St Kerrian | 2 | 1176.47x |
| Exeter St Sidwell | 2 | 35.84x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 3.05x |
| St Martin In Fields | 2 | 28.53x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 2.12x |
| St Tudy | 2 | 952.38x |
| Bitton Oldland | 1 | 42.55x |
| Bradford | 1 | 3.56x |
| Colchester Holy Trinity | 1 | 196.08x |
| Croydon | 1 | 3.16x |
| Fulham London | 1 | 5.89x |
| Godalming | 1 | 27.86x |
| Harwich St Nicholas | 1 | 56.18x |
| Horton In Bradford | 1 | 5.52x |
| Lexden | 1 | 107.53x |
| Newton Abbot St Mary | 1 | 49.02x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 8.39x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 1.97x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 6.54x |
| Stoke Climsland | 1 | 117.65x |
| Totnes | 1 | 70.42x |
| Walsham Le Willows | 1 | 208.33x |
| West Ham | 1 | 1.96x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Knowling surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Knowling surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Knowling households.
FAQ
In 1881, 119 people were recorded with the Knowling surname. That placed it at #17,841 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 66 in 2016. That gives Knowling a modern rank of #33,948.
A surname indicating one skilled or knowledgeable about something.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Knowling bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.