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Origins of the Knight surname

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What does the name Knight mean?

The origin of the Knight surname is English. It derives from the Middle English 'kniht' and the Anglo-Saxon 'cniht'. Knight is an occupational surname but may not always be applied to those who are have been given a knighthood and their descendants. It is equally likely to apply to a man-at-arms or other form of military follower, and in some cases even a servant or retainer.

Alternative variations of the name Knight

Knight, Knights, Night, Nights, Nite

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Where do most Knights live?

In 1921, most Knights lived in London.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Knights

How common is your surname?

80th most common surname in the UK

We have 379,000 records for the Knight surname. The oldest one dates back to 1100.

Who were Knights most likely to marry?

Smiths

&

Joneses

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Knights.

What are the most common Knight first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Knight family members

Common jobs for Knights

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Knights in 1921
Dressmaker

1,683

Laundress

1,315

Domestic Servant

1,011

General Servant Domestic

988

General Servant

755

Common Male occupations for Knights in 1921
Agricultural Labourer

2,281

General Labourer

1,461

Carpenter

1,346

Farm Labourer

1,163

Farmer

990

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We found over 420,000 family trees with the Knight surname

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