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Knighton Family History

Knighton Surname Meaning

English (East Midlands): habitational name from any of numerous places called with Old English cniht ‘knight young man retainer’ (genitive plural cnihta) + tūn ‘farmstead estate’.

Such places include Knighton (Leicestershire, Staffordshire) and Knighton on Teme (Worcestershire).

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Knighton family from?

You can see how Knighton families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Knighton family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Knighton families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 229 Knighton families living in Derbyshire. This was about 20% of all the recorded Knighton's in United Kingdom. Derbyshire had the highest population of Knighton families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Knighton 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 Knighton ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Knighton. 8% of Knighton men worked as a General Labourer and 74% of Knighton women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Knighton were Sanitary Ware Potter Hw and Household Duties.

View Census Data for Knighton | 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

  • General Labourer
    8%
  • Farmer
    6%
  • Retired
    6%
  • Sanitary Ware Potter Hw
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Household Duties
    2%

What Knighton family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 32,000 census records available for the last name Knighton. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Knighton census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Knighton

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Knighton. 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 Knighton immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Knighton. For the veterans among your Knighton ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Knighton military records

You've only scratched the surface of Knighton family history

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What is the average Knighton lifespan?

Between 1947 and 2004, in the United States, Knighton life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1947, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Knighton in 1947 was 29, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Knighton

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Knighton 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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