NameCensus.

UK surname

Knowlton

From an English place name meaning "hill of the knoll" or "town on the knoll."

In the 1881 census there were 249 people recorded with the Knowlton surname, ranking it #11,103 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 246, ranked #16,993, down from #11,103 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bramshaw, Eling and South Stoneham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds, Newport and Gosport.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Knowlton is 314 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.2%.

1881 census count

249

Ranked #11,103

Modern count

246

2016, ranked #16,993

Peak year

1911

314 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Knowlton had 249 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,103 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 246 in 2016, ranked #16,993.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 314 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Knowlton surname distribution map

The map shows where the Knowlton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Knowlton surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Knowlton over time

The 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 166 #11,986
1861 historical 149 #15,373
1881 historical 249 #11,103
1891 historical 262 #12,297
1901 historical 311 #11,363
1911 historical 314 #11,077
1997 modern 241 #15,638
1998 modern 249 #15,720
1999 modern 257 #15,506
2000 modern 246 #15,914
2001 modern 240 #15,912
2002 modern 239 #16,332
2003 modern 250 #15,605
2004 modern 240 #16,144
2005 modern 237 #16,244
2006 modern 226 #16,891
2007 modern 224 #17,193
2008 modern 219 #17,597
2009 modern 228 #17,486
2010 modern 237 #17,368
2011 modern 233 #17,426
2012 modern 219 #18,087
2013 modern 237 #17,423
2014 modern 241 #17,338
2015 modern 234 #17,577
2016 modern 246 #16,993

Geography

Back to top

Where Knowltons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bramshaw, Eling, South Stoneham, Southampton St Mary and Minstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds, Newport, Gosport, Telford and Wrekin and Southampton. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Bramshaw Hampshire
2 Eling Hampshire
3 South Stoneham Hampshire
4 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
5 Minstead Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 076 Leeds
2 Newport 001 Newport
3 Gosport 010 Gosport
4 Telford and Wrekin 021 Telford and Wrekin
5 Southampton 031 Southampton

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Knowlton

These lists show first names that appear often with the Knowlton surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Knowlton

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Knowlton, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Knowlton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Knowlton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Knowlton is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Knowlton is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Knowlton falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Knowlton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Knowlton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Knowlton

The surname Knowlton originated in England, and its roots can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is derived from the Old English words "cnoll," meaning a hill or hilltop, and "tun," meaning a town or settlement. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was "Cnolletun," found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror.

The name Knowlton is believed to have originated as a place name, referring to a settlement or dwelling located on a hilltop. This geographic association is common among many English surnames, as they often referred to the location where a person or family resided. The name is thought to have been initially used to identify individuals from the village of Knowlton, which is now located in the county of Kent.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert de Knowlton, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1203. Another early record is of William de Knolton, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1327. The spelling variations found in historical documents include Knolton, Knollton, and Knowleton, reflecting the evolution of the name over time.

In the 14th century, Sir Robert Knowlton was a prominent figure who served as a Member of Parliament for Kent. He was born around 1320 and played a significant role in local politics during his lifetime.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Thomas Knowlton (1691-1782) was a noted military leader who fought for the Parliamentary forces. He was born in Berkshire and is remembered for his bravery and strategic leadership in several battles.

Another notable bearer of the name was Samuel Knowlton (1734-1776), an American military officer who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He was born in Massachusetts and played a crucial role in the Battle of Bunker Hill, where he lost his life while leading his troops.

The name Knowlton has also been associated with several place names throughout England, such as Knowlton Court in Kent, Knowlton Hanger in Wiltshire, and Knowlton Village in Dorset. These locations likely derived their names from the original settlement or individuals who bore the surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Knowlton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Knowlton surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Hampshire leads with 191 Knowltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.37x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 191 38.37x
Middlesex 20 0.82x
Dorset 12 7.53x
Essex 8 1.67x
Bedfordshire 7 5.57x
Surrey 4 0.34x
Kent 2 0.24x
Sussex 2 0.49x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.68x
Durham 1 0.14x
Gloucestershire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southampton St Mary in Hampshire leads with 48 Knowltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 153.31x.

Place Total Index
Southampton St Mary 48 153.31x
Eling 43 853.17x
Minstead 17 2361.11x
Portsea 17 17.42x
Lyndhurst 14 1029.41x
Bramshaw 10 1587.30x
South Stoneham 10 92.59x
Cranborne 9 466.32x
Aveley 8 987.65x
Islington London 8 3.40x
Bursledon 7 1296.30x
Poddington 7 1555.56x
Romsey Infra 7 414.20x
St Pancras London 6 3.07x
Milford 4 275.86x
Alverstoke 3 16.65x
Hackney London 3 2.20x
Millbrook 3 23.92x
Portsmouth 3 26.18x
East Molesey 2 72.73x
Horton 2 526.32x
Battersea 1 1.12x
Bishops Waltham 1 48.31x
Bromley 1 7.92x
Christchurch 1 9.27x
Croydon 1 1.52x
Darlington 1 3.58x
Hastings St Mary 1 9.81x
Lewisham 1 2.26x
Littlehampton 1 30.58x
Olney 1 49.26x
Poplar London 1 2.18x
Ratcliffe London 1 7.46x
Romsey Extra 1 33.78x
Southampton Holy Rood 1 200.00x
Southampton St Michael 1 60.98x
St Marylebone London 1 0.77x
Stapleton 1 11.06x
Tarrant Hinton 1 588.24x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Knowlton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Knowlton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
George 15
William 11
Charles 10
James 9
John 9
Walter 8
Thomas 6
Henry 5
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Arthur 3
Joseph 3
Alfred 2
Earnest 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Jesse 2
Able 1
Alexander 1
Archibald 1
Authur 1
Caleb 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Eustace 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Herb.T. 1
Jasper 1
Joshua 1
Nathanuel 1
Oliver 1
Richard 1
Rufus 1
Thos.J. 1
Tom 1
Wallace 1

FAQ

Knowlton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Knowlton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 249 people were recorded with the Knowlton surname. That placed it at #11,103 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Knowlton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 246 in 2016. That gives Knowlton a modern rank of #16,993.

What does the Knowlton surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "hill of the knoll" or "town on the knoll."

What does the Knowlton map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Knowlton bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.