Surname Kneal - Meaning and Origin

Kneal: What does the surname Kneal mean?

The surname Kneal is of Anglo-Saxon origin and can be traced back to ancient times when Northern England was conquered by the Vikings. Derived from the Old Norse personal name "Knjall", it means "knight" or "champion". Knjall was often used in ancient poetic contexts to denote a person who was a strong, fearless warrior. Thus, the surname Kneal may have originally been given to a person distinguished in a battle or in competitive events demonstrating strength and courage. Over the centuries and through migrations, the name underwent spelling variations such as Neale, Neal, Neill, Niel, and others. People bearing the last name Kneal globally today are more commonly found in England, Scotland, and Australia among English-speaking nations. Like many surnames, Kneal also sometimes underwent further transformation into a place name, representing either the name of the land owned by the original bearer or the location where they lived.

Kneal: Where does the name Kneal come from?

The surname Kneal is most commonly found in England, although it also appears in the US, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. In England, the name has its origins in the ancient kingdom of Northumbria and it appears that it was first used as a surname in the early 14th century during the reign of Edward III of England.

The name Kneal is mainly concentrated in the northern part of England, particularly in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Derbyshire. However, smaller concentrations of the name have spread to the midlands and south, particularly in Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, and Hampshire.

In the US, the name appears mainly within the New England states and the southern states. In other Anglophone countries, the name pops up in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

It seems that the surname has been around a long time and spread as people moved with the ebb and flow of history. The name likely has its roots in the Old English language, where the prefix kneo meant a hill or knoll and the suffix al, meant belonging to.

The name Kneal in modern age is most prevalent in England, though it can be found throughout the family of Anglo-Saxon countries. To this day, the name is a constant reminder of the long journey from wilderness to a sprawling civilization.

Variations of the surname Kneal

The surname Kneal has a number of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include:

• Kneavel

• Knouvel

• Knouzell

• Knealley

• Kneall

• Knauel

• Kniess

• Knoel

• Knoval

• Knudell

• Knudle

• Knudsen

• Knowles

• Knowleson

• Knudson

• Knauss

• Kneisel

• Knepple

• Knipple

• Knipe

• Knepp

• Knueppel

• Knuepple

• Knappel

• Knappen

• Knebel

• Knobel

• Knopel

• Knoble

• Knuble

• Knoblel

• Knopell

• Knausskopf

• Knirsch

• Knosow

• Knosowskopf

• Knuepper

• Knorr

• Knopf

• Knaplund

• Knudsvig

• Knudson

• Knudtson

• Knutson

• Kneath

• Kneeb

• Kneebone

• Kneeble

• Knebl

• Kneebly

• Kneeburgh

• Kneeland

• Kneeset

• Kneeshaw

• Kneeshawe

• Kneeshawes

• Kneeshure

• Kneisham

Altogether, these variants allow us to trace back the origin of the surname Kneal with a much greater range. Given the wide array of regional differences in spelling during the Middle Ages and Early Modern period, these variants help us to ensure accuracy as to the movement and migration patterns of the surname throughout time.

Famous people with the name Kneal

• Jerrod Kneal: American film actor, best known for his role in the horror film Wrong Turn
• Hayley Kneal: Australian reality television star and singer, participant of Australian Idol
• Ian Kneale: British screenwriter, known for his work on the Prime Suspect detective series
• Kelly Kneal: American country music singer
• Troy Kneal: American football player, played for the Philadelphia Eagles in the early 2000s
• Ella Kneal: British fashion model, has worked for high-profile designers like Marc Jacobs and Tory Burch
• Clement Kneal: English painter, a leading light in the British Abstract Expressionist Movement
• Simon Kneale: British landscape painter, member of the Royal Society of British Artists
• Tracey Kneal: British actress, starred in popular television dramas like Coronation Street and Emmerdale
• Jesse Kneal: Canadian pop singer, front man for the chart-topping band Dance Rumble

Other surnames

KneafseyKnealeKnearem