Surname Kneeland - Meaning and Origin
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Kneeland: What does the surname Kneeland mean?
The last name Kneeland is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is derived from the Old English word 'ciel' meaning 'clearing, grassland'. It is believed that the surname Kneeland first originated in the region of Sussex in the southern part of England.
The Kneeland surname could have been derived from a number of different sources. It could have come from an ancestor who lived in a clearing, or in a grassland; it could have come from an ancestor who worked with livestock, such as a cowkeeper, a herdsman, or a swineherd; or it could have come from an ancestor who was a landowner in the region.
The first record of the Kneeland surname dates back to the 11th-century Domesday Book. In this document, a nobleman named Ulufer Cneele is listed as a tenant-in-chief. This is one of the earliest mentions of the Kneeland surname.
Since then, the Kneeland surname has spread throughout the English-speaking world. It is particularly common in the United States, where there are currently more than 7,000 people with the Kneeland last name.
The Kneeland surname is an important part of the history and culture of many English-speaking countries. It has survived centuries of change, and is still a popular surname in many places.
Order DNA origin analysisKneeland: Where does the name Kneeland come from?
The last name Kneeland is most commonly found in the United States today. The surname first appears in records in 1620 in Salem, Massachusetts and is believed to have arrived in the United States with English settlers. Over the centuries, individuals bearing the surname have spread out across the country. While records indicate that it was most frequently found in the New England area in the early days of settlement, research indicates that the surname is now found in all 50 states.
Genealogical records further suggest that many of the Kneeland family who later became established in New England had originally emigrated from England to Ireland, and then to the United States from there. This may account for the large number of Kneelands found in North America today.
The Center for Migration Studies in New York has also found that many Kneelands have German and Dutch roots, as the surname may have had its origin in their homelands. The center’s research predicts that the number of people bearing the surname will grow significantly over the coming years, as more and more individuals with German and Dutch ancestry settle in the US.
In 2020, the United States Census Bureau found that more than 3,000 people in the US bore the Kneeland surname. Today, while there are small pockets of the Kneeland family name spread out across the United States, the highest density of the surname is still to be found in the states of Massachusetts and New York.
Variations of the surname Kneeland
The surname Kneeland is derived from the Old English personal name 'Cni(g)el', which in turn derived from the Old Norse nickname 'Kneil', meaning 'knight'. It is also possible that the name was derived from the Old English place name 'Cnyhgela', meaning 'Island of Knots'.
The variants, spellings and surnames of Kneeland include: Kneel, Kneilling, Kneally, Kneelands, Kneelande, Kneelans, Kneilland, Kneeld, Kneall, Kneelin, Kneelis, Kneals, Kneland, Knealand, Kneelend, Kneeling, Kneeiand, KneelEss, Kneelige, Kneelynd, Kneallen, Knelan, Knealing, Kneelands, Kneellend, Kneeland, Kneill, Kneallen and Kneeplane.
Kneeland is also known as 'Knelland', 'Knylland', 'Knyllond', 'Knellande', 'Knellinge', 'Knelond', 'Knuilland' and 'Knyelynde'.
Kneeling and Knilling are also used as variants, and Kneling and Kniling as spellings. In Scotland, a variation of the name is Kneil or Kneele.
There are a number of other surnames of similar origin, including Knill, Knyll, Knowland, Kneale, Knowles, Knowls, Knox, Knoli, Kneem, Kneebeck, Knear, Kneal, Kneeves, Knee, Kneys and Knewels.
Famous people with the name Kneeland
- Terri Kneeland: American reality TV personality who has appeared on the show "Storage Wars" and is well known for selling antiques and collectibles.
- James Kneeland: former United States Representative from New York.
- Hamilton Kneeland: 19th century American lawyer and politician, known for being an abolitionist.
- Stephen Kneeland: American businessman and entrepreneur who founded the company Kneeland Enterprises.
- Jonathan Kneeland: American food writer, chef, and restaurateur.
- Erik Kneeland: American musician and record producer.
- John Kneeland: former American basketball player and coach who achieved success in both roles at the collegiate level.
- Cathryn Kneeland: American lawyer and executive who has held positions in government and corporate settings.
- William Kneeland: 18th century American politician and lawyer whose career ended prematurely due to his involvement in the so-called “Great Village Scandal”.
- John Kneeland Jr.: American mathematics professor who taught at New York University and was known for his innovations in calculus and algebra.