History of your Surname
Get access to Knox family records.Start a free trial

Knox Family History

Knox Name Meaning

Scottish and English (Northumberland and Durham): from a genitive or plural form of Old English cnocc ‘round-topped hill’ hence a topographic name for someone who lived on a hilltop or a habitational name from any of the places in Scotland and northern England named with this element now spelled Knock in particular one in Renfrewshire. Scottish: habitational name from any of the places in Scotland named with Gaelic cnoc ‘hill’ for example Knock in Renfrewshire. It is not possibly to disentangle this from the surname derived from the English etymon mentioned in 1 above. Americanized form of one or more similar (like-sounding) Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic) surnames.

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


Similar surnames: Knock, Knop, Ko, Knee, Noy, Kos, Krol, Kwon, Noe, Krog

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Knox family from?

You can see how Knox families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Knox family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Knox families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 595 Knox families living in Durham. This was about 23% of all the recorded Knox's in United Kingdom. Durham had the highest population of Knox families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Knox 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 Knox 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 Knox. 14% of Knox men worked as a General Labourer and 71% of Knox women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Knox were Motor Driver and Housewife. .

View Census Data for Knox | 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
    14%
  • Incapacitated
    5%
  • Bricklayer
    4%
  • Motor Driver
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    71%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Knox family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 299,000 census records available for the last name Knox. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Knox census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Knox

Passenger Lists

There are 39,000 immigration records available for the last name Knox. 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 Knox immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 57,000 military records available for the last name Knox. For the veterans among your Knox ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Knox military records

You've only scratched the surface of Knox family history

Discover More

What is the average Knox lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Knox life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Knox in 1940 was 53, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Knox

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Knox family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Knox last name

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