This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Knobel family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Knobel Family History

Knobel Surname Meaning

German and Swiss German (also Knöbel): from Middle High German knübel probably a nickname for a fat person or in the sense ‘ankle’. However, the term also denotes a rounded elevation and may therefore also be a topographic name for someone who lived by a knoll.

Knöbel is also an archaic word for a servant, a variant of Knabel. Jewish (Ashkenazic; also Knöbel): artificial name from German Knobel (also Knöbel) ‘knot, node, outgrowth, knuckle’.

Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): nickname from Yiddish knobl ‘garlic’.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Knobel family from?

You can see how Knobel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Knobel family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Knobel families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 5 Knobel families living in London. This was about 56% of all the recorded Knobel's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Knobel families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Knobel surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Knobel ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Knobel. 67% of Knobel women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Knobel | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Private Means
    34%

What Knobel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Knobel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Knobel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Knobel

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Knobel. For the veterans among your Knobel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Knobel military records

You've only scratched the surface of Knobel family history

Discover More

What is the average Knobel lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Knobel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Knobel in 1952 was 46, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Knobel

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Knobel 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Knobel family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial