Surname Knee - Meaning and Origin

Knee: What does the surname Knee mean?

The last name Knee is of English origin and has multiple possible meanings. It most likely comes from an old form of the word “kneel” and was originally given to someone who lived near a hill shaped like the knee of a person or an animal, or someone who lived near a place where people would kneel during religious ceremonies.

The name also possibly originated as a nickname for someone with bowed legs, a stooped physical posture, or a lopsided gait. Alternatively, it could have come from an Anglo-Saxon personal name, Cyn or Kynn, from the Old English word for “king”, or it could be derived from a Dutch name, spelled Kneel.

In some cases, the surname Knee could be derived from a place called Knee, which is located in Shropshire, England. This place was likely named after the original family who settled there.

As a surname, Knee today is a relatively rare but still seen quite often in the United Kingdom. It is also found sporadically in other parts of the English-speaking world, the United States included.

Knee: Where does the name Knee come from?

The surname Knee is found primarily in the United Kingdom and Ireland today. The name is likely of Anglo-Saxon origin derived from the word ‘cneow,’ which means hill. It is believed the original bearer of the name was a person who dwelled in or near a hill, and the name became adopted by their descendants.

In England, the surname is concentrated in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. Some research indicates that the greatest concentration of people with the name Knee can be found in Loddon, a village in Norfolk, and Halesworth, a town in Suffolk.

In Ireland, the surname is primarily found in the province of Leinster, where the densest population of Knees can be found in certain parts of County Wexford. In the United States, the surname is largely concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions, particularly in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Overall, the surname Knee is quite rare today, with an estimated total of 1,500 individuals bearing the name around the world. Its origins in the British Isles makes it difficult to trace its exact roots today.

Variations of the surname Knee

The surname Knee is generally believed to have originated in England. There are several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.

The variants of the surname Knee include: Kne, Kneeh, Knees, Kneh, Knay, Kneea, Knoo.

In some cases, the spelling has been altered to Kneve, Knye, Knae, Kny, or Knawe.

Similarly, there are also surnames of similar origins, either derived from the original name or sharing a common ancestor, such as Knew, Kneeser, Knowes, Knof, Knop, Kneese, Knepp, Knetz, Knopp, Knous, Knute, Knutsen, Knysak, Knizner, and Knecht.

In old records, the spelling of the surname appears to have varied widely, with some other variations including Kneaser, Knehr, Kneder, Knoda, Kneler, Kneib and Knibel.

Because of the variations, some of the surnames today may stem from different social backgrounds or geographical locations. For example, some related to prominent role within a guild or profession, such as the Kneasen, Kneese and Knepp families. In other cases, the variations may be due to a family change of residence.

Regardless, all of these names ultimately share the same origin, tracing back to the original English surname - Knee.

Famous people with the name Knee

• Robert Knee: American Marine stationed in Australia in World War II, and later a brigadier in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.
• John Knee: American fencer and coach who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.
• Joe Knee: Canadian figure skater who competed in the 1924 Winter Olympics.
• Bill Knee: Australian footballer who played for Hawthorn Football Club from 1946: 1950.
• Laurence Knee: British professor of English literature and theatre at Oxford University from 1981: 1996.
• William Knee: American film producer and director, known for his work on the cult comedy classic Airplane! (1980)
• Robert Knee: Australian physicist and a pioneer in the development of the atomic bomb.
• John Knee: American jazz drummer and composer, founder of the Free Flight improvisational jazz group.
• Alfredo Knee: Brazilian footballer who starred as a center-forward for Fluminense from 1972: 1977.
• Michael Knee: American lawyer and a member of the New York State Senate from 1994: 1998.

Other surnames

KneafseyKnealKnealeKnearemKnebelKneblKnebleinKnechtKnechtelKnechtenKnechtgesKnechtlKnechtleKnechtleinKnechtliKnechtsKnedlaKnedlikKnedlitschekKneelandKneibKneidingerKneilKneipKneippKneiselKneiseleyKneislKneisleKneislei