Surname Knoblich - Meaning and Origin
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Knoblich: What does the surname Knoblich mean?
The last name Knoblich is of German origin and can be found all around the world. It is believed to derive from the Middle High German word ‘knobloch’ which itself was derived from the word ‘knopf’ meaning button. Thus people with the last name Knoblich were most likely associated with making buttons or small pieces of clothing. It also is said to be related to a word meaning ‘round object’ which could be because buttons, as a physical object, are usually round and small in size.
The name first appeared in documents during the 17th century, in the region of Northern Germany which at the time was part of Lower Saxony. Over time it spread throughout Germany and other parts of Europe, with the most prominent Knoblichs in this region living in Silesia, West Prussia, East Prussia and Posen. It is possible that the name may have also spread to other parts of the world, particularly the United States, Canada and Australia.
The Knoblich name has many variants including Knoblauch, Knöblich, Knöblauch and Knobloch. Although the surname is rather rare, those bearing it are said to be an independent and determined people who are very loyal to their friends and family.
Order DNA origin analysisKnoblich: Where does the name Knoblich come from?
The last name Knoblich is most commonly associated with the modern-day German state of Bavaria. Knoblich is believed to have originated in the Rhineland area of Germany, but large numbers of Knoblich's began moving to Bavaria in the 16th century. Today, more than two-thirds of people who bear the Knoblich name live in Bavaria and other nearby German states.
Knoblich families spread out throughout Europe and some even made their way to North America in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Records show that Knoblich's settled in Russia, Poland, Hungary, as well as the United States. In the United States, Knoblich’s are most notably found in Pennsylvania, with lesser populations in New York and California.
Considering its likely geographic origins, Knoblich is considered a German surname. It could be a variant of the German name “Knoblauch” (garlic), or the Old German words for “lump” or “knob.” In addition to its German variant, the last name translates to Knobloch in Czech, Knobloch in Polish, and Knobloch in Dutch.
The Knoblich surname has been around for centuries, and the number of people who bear the last name is still quite large in cosmopolitan areas of the world. Today, it’s still most common in Germany, especially in Bavaria and other nearby German states, as well as in the Czech Republic, Russia, Poland, and the United States.
Variations of the surname Knoblich
The surname Knoblich is derived from a German term that roughly translates to 'peasant farmer.' It is a toponymic surname, indicating that its original bearer lived near a particular geographical area, and it is related to the word 'knobel,' which refers to a small hill or bump.
Variations of the name Knoblich include Knoblauch, Knobel, Knobloch, Knoblock, Knopel, Knoblinger, Knopfle, Knoebler, Knoblauch, Knoblich, and Knoebel.
The German spelling for Knoblich appears most often as Knobloch or Knoblauch. In Austria, it is spelled Klausböck, and in Switzerland, it is spelled Knöbli. In Yiddish, Knobloch is spelled Kniiblekh.
Knoblich is also sometimes found as the English name Knobel. In America, Knobloch is typically found spelled with a 'K' at the beginning, although there are records of Knoblauch spelled Knolloch in the 1800's in Pennsylvania.
In Poland, the surname Knobloch is typically spelled with an 'K.' Alternate spellings of the name in Poland include Knoblok, Knoblich, Knoblowicz, and Knoblowicz. In Finland, the spelling Knopel is common.
The surname Knobloch is found amongst Jewish people, and in Ashkenazi areas it is typically spelledKnoblich orKnobel. In the French-speaking world, the name is spelled Knoblauche. In Dutch, the name is occasionally spelled with a 'C' as Knobclich.
Famous people with the name Knoblich
- Josef Knoblich (born 1962), Austrian film director
- Heinz Knoblich (born 1930) Austrian actor
- Joe Knoblich (born 1943) American artist
- Edward Knoblich (1925-2008) Canadian ice hockey player
- Michael Knoblich (born 1989) German football player
- Wilhelm Knoblich (1862-1929) German architect
- Alfred Knoblich (1857-1906) German philosopher
- Otto Knoblich (born 1943) German poet and author
- Jürgen Knoblich (born 1963) German theoretical physicist
- Ulrich Knoblich (born 1959) German biochemist
- John Knoblich (born 1940) American music producer
- Artur Knoblich (1884–1945) German politician
- Ulrich Knoblich (1920–2012) German film producer
- Hugo Knoblich (1876–1959) German actor
- Leonhard Knoblich (1789–1865) German sculptor
- Ralf Knoblich (born 1974) German video game developer
- Johann Knoblich (born 1914) German physicist
- Maximilian Knoblich (born 1883) Austrian comic book artist