Surname Knisely - Meaning and Origin

Knisely: What does the surname Knisely mean?

The surname 'Knisely' is of German origin. It is derived from the German "knösel," meaning "ball of thread." Therefore, it is believed to be an occupational surname bestowed upon those who were involved in the knitting industry in some way, such as a spinner, weaver, or even a seller of yarn. The surname underwent various spelling variations after reaching America in the 18th century, which is a common occurrence with many German surnames due to the differences in German dialects and American English. The spelling forms include Knosel, Kniesel, Knoessel, and Knisley, among others. The descendants carrying the Knisely surname are found majorly in the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania, which was a significant destination for German immigrants. It is interesting to note that surnames were a late development in the German regions and were adopted as a way to distinguish between families with the same first names. As a result, many German surnames, like Knisely, reflect a person's occupation, geographic locality, physical attributes, or even desired attributes.

Knisely: Where does the name Knisely come from?

The last name Knisely is not particularly common. According to the US Census Bureau, as of 2020, there are only 621 people in the United States with the last name Knisely. The most common states for Knisely are Pennsylvania (183), Ohio (126), Indiana (72), and Virginia (61).

The surname Knisely is most likely German in origin, but may also have derived from other northern European languages. This is due to the fact that many German immigrants came to the US during the 1700s and 1800s, bringing their surnames with them.

The last name Knisely is mainly concentrated in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Virginia are the most common states where the surname Knisely is found today. There are small numbers in other states such as New Jersey, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

Knisely is not a particularly popular surname. However, there are still some individuals with the last name Knisely who are living in the US today, maintain the surname, and keep it alive.

Variations of the surname Knisely

The Knisely surname has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Variations of the surname include Knisley, Knicely, Knizley, Knisly, and Knislye. It is also spelled in some regions as Knicely, Knizly, Knicel, Kniceli, and Knislee.

The surname Knisely originated from several localities across Germany and Switzerland; the ancient forms of the name were recorded in these areas as early as the 13th century. The name itself is thought to be derived from the Old German word "kniz," meaning "kinsman," showing the strong bond between the area's founding families.

In addition to the variations and spellings of the name, the Knisely surname has numerous surnames of the same origin. Variants of the name include Kniseley, Knizeley, Kniceler, Knizel, Knizeli, and Kniceli. It is also thought to have originated from the Middle English personal name "Knize," and is sometimes spelled with the suffix "-lein," meaning "small" in the Middle High German language.

Other related surnames of the same origin are Kniselyer, Kunisley, Knishley, Knissy, Kinsel, Kinsley, Kinnisly, Kinsler, Kingsly, Kensingles, Kinchelor, Kintzly, and Kinseler. These surnames are most commonly found in the areas of Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, as well as other European countries.

Today, the Knisely surname can be found in the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, Germany, and Switzerland. It is also common in other countries such as Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

Famous people with the name Knisely

• Casey Knisely: Former member of the American Paralympic Team
• Tim Knisely: Professional lacrosse player and coach
• Sarah Knisely: Professional figure skater
• Kym Knisely: Former San Francisco Giants player
• Angela Knisely: Award winning violinist
• Chloe Knisely: Canadian Olympic freestyle skier
• Dave Knisely: Former NFL player
• Joe Knisely: Veteran NHL coach
• Dan Knisely: Professional bass angler
• Ashley Knisely: Three time BDO World Darts Champion

Other surnames

Kniseley