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Knightly Family History

Knightly Surname Meaning

English (Middlesex and Cambridgeshire): variant of Knightley a habitational name from Knightley in Gnosall (Staffordshire). The placename derives from Old English cniht ‘knight young man retainer’ (genitive plural cnihta) + lēah ‘woodland clearing’.

This is the usual spelling of the name in Ireland where it has been established since the 17th century.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Knightly family from?

You can see how Knightly families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Knightly family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Knightly families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 67 Knightly families living in London. This was about 34% of all the recorded Knightly's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Knightly families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Knightly surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Knightly ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Window Cleaner and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Knightly. 67% of Knightly men worked as a Window Cleaner and 83% of Knightly women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Knightly were Builders Labourer and Retired.

View Census Data for Knightly | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Window Cleaner
    67%
  • Builders Labourer
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    83%
  • Domestic Duties
    6%
  • Private Means
    6%
  • Retired
    6%

What Knightly family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Knightly. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Knightly census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Knightly

Passenger Lists

There are 490 immigration records available for the last name Knightly. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Knightly immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 551 military records available for the last name Knightly. For the veterans among your Knightly ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Knightly military records

You've only scratched the surface of Knightly family history

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What is the average Knightly lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Knightly life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Knightly in 1950 was 40, and 84 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Knightly

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Knightly ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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