Surname Kniehase - Meaning and Origin
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Kniehase: What does the surname Kniehase mean?
The last name Kniehase is of German origin, and is believed to have derived from the Old German personal name "Kniohans." This personal name was derived from "knio" or "knie," meaning "knee," and "hans," meaning "God is gracious." The name is also derived from the Middle High German knie, meaning “trouser leg,” combined with hans, an abbreviation of Johannes, meaning “John.” As such, the name Kniehase translates to “John of the knee” or “John with big knees.”
The name is commonly found in northern Germany. It is also thought to be associated with the Franconian location known as Kreuzkrug, which literally translates to "Cross Knees," related to the custom of crossing one's knees when making a vow of loyalty or prayer during the Middle Ages. The name has also been found in other locations throughout Germany.
Some notable figures who have held the name Kniehase are the Prussian astronomer Ernst Friedrich Wilhelm Kniehase, who made significant advances in the study of stellar spectroscopy, and the German sculptor of the same name who created the monument to freedom at the Gate of Brandenburg in Berlin.
Today, the name Kniehase is still recognized throughout Europe. People with the name still maintain its original meaning – a loyal, faithful, and gracious individual.
Order DNA origin analysisKniehase: Where does the name Kniehase come from?
The surname Kniehase (Kniehaus, Kneyhase) is commonly found in Germany today. This name is especially prevalent in Lower Saxony, Bergstrasse and Darmstadt, which is likely the result of migration from the Palatinate region centuries ago. While this name is quite distinctive, it has also been found scattered throughout Germany and Europe, particularly in neighboring countries such as Austria, France, and the Netherlands.
In Germany, there is also a handful of settlements with the prefix "Kniehase" such as Kniehase, Einsiedelei, and so on, which may have been named after the Kniehase family who lived in the area at some point.
The surname Kniehase is said to have originated from the Middle High German name 'knihasen' meaning 'swan keeper'. It's possible then that this name was first used to refer to someone who was a keeper of swans, or perhaps someone involved with the swan industry (including raising/selling them).
In the present day, Kniehase is still quite common throughout Germany, although not as popular as some other German surnames such as the much more common Müller (Miller), Schmidt, and Schmitt. The name is less popular outside of Germany, but it still exists in multiple countries around the world, particularly in areas previously inhabited by German emigrants. In the US, for instance, the surname is not particularly common, but it is still possible to encounter a Kniehase family living in certain states such as North Dakota and Minnesota.
Variations of the surname Kniehase
The surname Kniehase is derived from the German word “kniehausen”, which means “little house at the knee”. Variants of the surname include Kneehaus, Kneehouse, Knihouser and Kniehoser.
The spelling of the surname may also vary due to regional dialects or personal preference. Common variations of Kniehase include Knehase, Kniehaus, Kneehausen, Knehaus, Knehhausen, Knehouse, Knehouser, and Knehouser.
Surnames of similar origin include Knihouse, Knihausen, Kneyhaus, Kneyhausen, Knihouser, Kneyhouser, and Knehose.
The surname Kniehase can also be found interactively spelled as Kneyhäuser and Knihäuser with the ä.
Other commonly seen variants of the surname appear in the United States. This is likely attributed to the simplifying the German script for an easier Americanization process. American variants of the name include, but are not limited to, Kneas, Knease, Knees, Kneus, Kneis, Knehs, Knese, Knesh, Kneis, and Kneish.
The surname Kniehase is also found in Sweden, with variants including Knijhaus, Kneijhaus, and Kneijhas. Other international variants of the surname include Kneyhaus in Netherlands and Kneyhouser and Knijhouser in Germany.
What's more, the surnames Knehause, Knehaus, Knehouser, Kneihause, and Kneihouser have all been found to be of the same origin as Kniehase.
Therefore, in the case of the surname Kniehase, there are many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Kniehase
- Arthur Kniehase (1872-1961): German-born American film actor of the silent era.
- Conrad Kniehase (1898-1931): German-born American motion picture cinematographer of the 1920s and 1930s.
- Eric Kniehase (born 1993): German football player.
- Klaus Kniehase (1929-1999): German-born American film producer of the 1940s and 1950s.
- Lucie Kniehase (1919-1988): German-born American film actress of the 1930s and 1940s.
- Walter Kniehase (1914-2003): German-born American film actor of the 1940s and 1950s. 7 .Otto Kniehase (1887-1950): German-born Canadian film actor of the silent era.
- Alfred Kniehase (1900-1971): German-born American film actor of the 1920s and 1930s.
- Al Kniehase (1879-1940): German-born American film actor of the silent era.
- Gerda Kniehase (born 1927): German actress.
- Claudia Kniehase (born 1966): German pianist and musical director.
- Reinhard Kniehase (born 1957): German football referee.