NameCensus.

UK surname

Knudsen

A patronymic surname of Danish origin meaning "son of Knud," derived from the Old Norse name Knutr.

In the 1881 census there were 45 people recorded with the Knudsen surname, ranking it #27,314 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 212, ranked #18,843, up from #27,314 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Lincolnshire, Kensington and Chelsea and Three Rivers.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Knudsen is 223 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 371.1%.

1881 census count

45

Ranked #27,314

Modern count

212

2016, ranked #18,843

Peak year

2014

223 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Knudsen had 45 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,314 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 212 in 2016, ranked #18,843.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 117 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Knudsen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Knudsen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Knudsen 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
1861 historical 8 #32,887
1881 historical 45 #27,314
1891 historical 46 #30,657
1901 historical 117 #20,830
1911 historical 92 #23,580
1997 modern 168 #19,642
1998 modern 189 #18,737
1999 modern 190 #18,797
2000 modern 187 #18,990
2001 modern 194 #18,287
2002 modern 195 #18,590
2003 modern 181 #19,277
2004 modern 174 #19,871
2005 modern 163 #20,627
2006 modern 173 #19,995
2007 modern 186 #19,337
2008 modern 188 #19,387
2009 modern 194 #19,398
2010 modern 209 #18,893
2011 modern 195 #19,610
2012 modern 206 #18,837
2013 modern 221 #18,252
2014 modern 223 #18,279
2015 modern 217 #18,542
2016 modern 212 #18,843

Geography

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Where Knudsens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes, Gateshead, Manchester and Lytham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Lincolnshire, Kensington and Chelsea, Three Rivers and Wiltshire. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Lytham Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Lincolnshire 018 North East Lincolnshire
2 Kensington and Chelsea 015 Kensington and Chelsea
3 Three Rivers 001 Three Rivers
4 North East Lincolnshire 017 North East Lincolnshire
5 Wiltshire 027 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Knudsen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Knudsen

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Knudsen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Knudsen 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Knudsen 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

Knudsen is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Knudsen falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Knudsen 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Knudsen

The surname Knudsen originated in Denmark and is a patronymic name, meaning it was derived from the given name of the father or an ancestor. In this case, Knudsen is the Danish equivalent of the English surname Johnson, both of which stem from a personal name.

Knudsen is derived from the Old Norse personal name Knútr, which means "knot" or "nugget." This name was quite popular during the Viking Age and was borne by several Danish kings, including the famous King Canute the Great, who ruled England, Denmark, and Norway in the 11th century.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Knudsen can be traced back to the 13th century in various Danish records and chronicles. One notable early bearer of the name was Knud Svendsen Knudsen, a Danish nobleman who lived in the late 13th century and was a prominent figure in the court of King Eric V of Denmark.

In the following centuries, the Knudsen surname began to spread throughout Denmark and other Scandinavian countries. Several notable individuals with this surname emerged, including the Danish astronomer Thomas Knudsen (1638-1696), who made significant contributions to the study of comets and the motion of the planets.

Another prominent figure was Søren Andreas Knudsen (1776-1848), a Norwegian-born Danish politician and jurist who served as the Prime Minister of Denmark from 1842 to 1848. He played a crucial role in the introduction of democratic reforms in Denmark during the 19th century.

In the field of literature, the Danish author and poet Knud Knudsen (1812-1876) gained recognition for his lyrical works and his contributions to the development of Danish literature during the Romantic period.

The Knudsen surname can also be found in other parts of Scandinavia, including Norway and Sweden, where it has similar origins and meanings. One notable Norwegian bearer of the name was Hans Christian Knudsen (1763-1828), a sailor and explorer who was the first European to set foot on the Antarctic mainland in 1823.

Throughout history, the Knudsen surname has been associated with various professions and fields, including academia, politics, exploration, and the arts, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have borne this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Knudsen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Knudsen 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. Middlesex leads with 14 Knudsens recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.19x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 14 3.19x
Northumberland 10 15.32x
Durham 4 3.06x
Surrey 4 1.87x
Yorkshire 3 0.69x
Cornwall 2 4.03x
Fife 2 7.70x
Glamorgan 1 1.31x
Gloucestershire 1 1.16x
Lanarkshire 1 0.70x
Lancashire 1 0.19x
Midlothian 1 1.70x
Monmouthshire 1 3.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Poplar London in Middlesex leads with 10 Knudsens recorded in 1881 and an index of 120.77x.

Place Total Index
Poplar London 10 120.77x
North Shields 7 538.46x
Penge 4 142.86x
St Pancras London 4 11.33x
Byker 2 61.92x
Middlesbrough 2 35.34x
South Shields 2 172.41x
Westoe 2 27.03x
Berkeley 1 208.33x
Cardiff St Mary 1 23.75x
Falmouth 1 56.82x
Inverkeithing 1 256.41x
Leith North 1 909.09x
Liverpool 1 3.16x
Newcastle On Tyne 1 1428.57x
Newport 1 66.23x
Southcoates 1 41.49x
St Blazey 1 227.27x
Tradeston 1 5000.00x
Wemyss 1 90.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Christine 2
Anna 1
Dina 1
Jane 1
Julie 1
Lilie 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Marie 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Carl 2
Christian 2
Frederick 2
Knud 2
Thomas 2
Aasmund 1
Andreas 1
Bendik 1
Henry 1
James 1
Lars 1
Mathew 1
Ole 1
Oskar 1
Peder 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Rudolph 1
Samuel 1
Simon 1
Sivert 1
Tens 1
Waldmer 1

Top occupations

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 Knudsen households.

FAQ

Knudsen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Knudsen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 45 people were recorded with the Knudsen surname. That placed it at #27,314 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Knudsen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 212 in 2016. That gives Knudsen a modern rank of #18,843.

What does the Knudsen surname mean?

A patronymic surname of Danish origin meaning "son of Knud," derived from the Old Norse name Knutr.

What does the Knudsen map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Knudsen 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.