Surname Knapich - Meaning and Origin
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Knapich: What does the surname Knapich mean?
The surname Knapich is of Slavic origin, likely derived from the Lithuanian phrase knypliai, which translates to a small clump of grass, or a small meadow. It could also have been derived from the Old Polish word knapić, meaning 'to knot or to tie up'.
The name carries connotations of energy, vitality and a sense of nature and the outdoors. It could also be a reference to an occupation such as farming, breeding or shearing animals or even a reference to a work of art such as knotting or weaving.
Knapich is a rare surname and it is most commonly found in Czechoslovakia and Slovakia. It could also be found in Austria and Hungary, although not as commonly.
In the United States, the surname is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illiniois, and California. The highest concentration of Knapich is located around the cities of Pittsburgh and Cleveland.
The name Knapich would fit with someone of a Slavic heritage, although it could indicate an interest in the outdoors, nature, or craftsmanship. It could also indicate connection to a certain region like the ones mentioned above or an ancestral line from these places.
Order DNA origin analysisKnapich: Where does the name Knapich come from?
The last name Knapich is most commonly found in European countries like Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Ukraine. It is believed to have originated from the Slavic languages as a topographic or habitational surname. The topographic version of this name typically denotes someone who hails from or lived on the top of a hill as ‘knap’ is the Slavic word for hill.
The prevalence of Knapich has seen a steady increase since the year 2000, with many of the people bearing this name now living in the United States and Canada. Subsequently, this name can also be found in countries such as England, Scotland, Ireland, and France.
In terms of population size, around 21,603 people who bear this name live in the United States. This makes the last name Knapich the 13,717th most common name in the United States.
In Canada, a census conducted in 2001 reports that there were 39 people with the last name Knapich in the country. It is unknown if this number increased in the interim, however, it appears to have a much lower prevalence that in the United States.
Due to the fact that many people bearing the last name Knapich now live in the United States and Canada, it appears this name is most common in North America but can still be found in numerous countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Knapich
The surname Knapich has a few different variants and spellings, from the Slovakian and Czech languages.
In Slovak, it is spelled as Knapíč and is pronounced 'KNAH-peech'. It is derived from the Old Czech word 'knap' meaning 'gentleman'. In some cases, it has also been known by an umlauted form, spelling the surname Knapíč with a double-dot accent.
In Czech, the surname can be spelled as Knapíč, or its derived spelling Knapík, and is pronounced 'KNAH-peech' or 'KNAH-peek'. It can also take on the form Knapík with an umlaut.
There are many surnames of the same origin as Knapich, some of which may be spelt differently and are pronounced similarly. Many of them have traditional spellings in various languages, including Knappich (in German), Knapik (in Polish) and Knapick (in Ukrainian).
Other derivatives of the name include Knapovic, Knapowicz, Knapitski, Knapovicz, and Knapka. All of these names can be found in records with various spellings and often originate from the same geographical region.
The surname Knapich is not particularly common, but it is scattered throughout the world as a result of immigration and emigration of people of this origin. It can be found in records from countries such as the United States, Canada, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and many others.
Famous people with the name Knapich
- Richard Knapich: American aviation advocate who speaks on issues such as airline deregulation and safety.
- Joe Knapich: former Major League Baseball player and scout for the Baltimore Orioles.
- Zach Knapich– American journalist and producer of the satirical website, “Knap Facts.”
- Caitlin Knapich: National Champion weightlifter and CrossFit competitor.
- Sergey Knapich: Armenian mathematician and political activist who serves on the Armenian National Security Council and the National Academy of Sciences.
- Mark Knapich: renowned commercial photographer known for his landscape, nature, and portrait work.
- Alex Knapich & Kleiner Knapich: Russian circus acrobats and performers who showcased their talents in the Cirque du Soleil production, “Mystere.”
- John Knapich: inventor of the modular knitting machine, which revolutionized the global knitting industry.
- Slava Knapich: Ukrainian Olympic judoka and Gold Medal winner from the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, Australia.
- Miles Knapich– American blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter who has released several solo albums.