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Knapp Family History

Knapp Name Meaning

German: occupational or status name from the German word Knapp(e) a variant of Knabe ‘young unmarried man’. In the 15th century this spelling acquired the separate specialized meanings ‘servant apprentice’ and ‘miner’. This surname is also found elsewhere in central Europe e.g. in Czechia and Slovakia where it is more commonly spelled Knap (compare 3 below). German: in Franconia a nickname for a dexterous or skillful person of the same ultimate origin as 1 above. Germanized or Americanized form of Polish Czech Slovak Rusyn and Slovenian Knap a surname of ultimately German origin (see 1 above). English: nickname from Middle English knape knappe ‘boy youth; servant’ also ‘rogue rascal’ (Old English cnapa). Compare Nave with which it sometimes interchanges. English: from Middle English knap(pe) ‘knob hillock’ (Old English cnæpp ‘hilltop’). The name may be topographic for someone who lived ‘(at the) hill top or hillock’ or toponymic from a place so named such as Knapp in Christchurch (Hampshire) Knapp in Woolfardisworthy (Devon) or Knapp Farm in Iping (Sussex). Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): from the German adjective knapp ‘tight scarce’ one of the surnames distributed at random to Jews by Austrian clerks.

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


Similar surnames: Napp, Knopp, Kapp, Knipp, Knabe, Kamp, Kopp, Trapp, Karp, Clapp

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Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Knapp family from?

You can see how Knapp families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Knapp family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Knapp families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 544 Knapp families living in London. This was about 27% of all the recorded Knapp's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Knapp families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Knapp surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Knapp 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 Knapp. 9% of Knapp men worked as a General Labourer and 72% of Knapp women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Knapp were Gardener and Private Means. .

View Census Data for Knapp | 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
    9%
  • Bricklayer
    9%
  • Builders Labourer
    6%
  • Gardener
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Private Means
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Knapp family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 288,000 census records available for the last name Knapp. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Knapp census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Knapp

Passenger Lists

There are 26,000 immigration records available for the last name Knapp. 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.

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Draft Cards

There are 56,000 military records available for the last name Knapp. For the veterans among your Knapp ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Knapp lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Knapp life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1946, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Knapp in 1942 was 49, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Knapp

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