Knowles Family History

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Knowles Name Meaning

English: topographic name for someone who lived at the top of a hill or by a hillock, from a genitive or plural form of Middle English knoll ‘hilltop’, ‘hillock’ (Old English cnoll; see Knoll), or habitational name from any of the many places named with this word. Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Tnúthghail (see Newell).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Bowes, Toles, Fowle, Voyles, Kyles, Mowles, Downes, Koller, Powles

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Knowles Family Origin

Where is the Knowles family from?

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You can see how Knowles families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Knowles family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Knowles families were found in the UK in 1891. In 1891 there were 5,360 Knowles families living in Lancashire. This was about 35% of all the recorded Knowles's in the UK. Lancashire had the highest population of Knowles families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Knowles surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Knowles

Knowles Family Occupations

What did your Knowles ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the UK named Knowles. 2% of Knowles men worked as a General Labourer and 50% of Knowles women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Knowles were Bricklayer and Cotton Weaver

View Census data for Knowles | Data not to scale

Top Male Occupations in 1939

  • General Labourer
    2%
  • Builders Labourer
    1%
  • Farmer
    1%
  • Bricklayer
    1%

Top Female Occupations in 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    50%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Cotton Weaver
    2%

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

Knowles Historical Records

What Knowles family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 391,000 census records available for the last name Knowles. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Knowles census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search 1891 UK census records for Knowles

Passenger List

There are 45,000 immigration records available for the last name Knowles. 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 Knowles immigration records

Draft Card

There are 44,000 military records available for the last name Knowles. For the veterans among your Knowles ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Knowles military records

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Knowles Life Expectancy

What is the average Knowles lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Knowles life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Knowles in 1944 was 24, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Knowles

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Knowles 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.

Famous Knowles Family Ancestors

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