Surname Knoelke - Meaning and Origin
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Knoelke: What does the surname Knoelke mean?
The last name Knoelke is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word “knolke,” meaning “dweller in the corner of a settlement.” The name first appeared in early records during the mid-12th century and over the following centuries spread throughout Germany and nearby countries.
The Knoelke surname could be found among members of noble families, either as a name of a noble lord or one of their domains. Today, the name can be found in records of wealthy merchants and prominent statesman.
Knoelke is a rare surname, and most people with this last name still live in Germany. Over the years, members of this family have made homes in other countries, including the United States. There, people with the Knoelke name can be found on both coasts.
Those with the Knoelke name come from a long line of hard-working and enterprising individuals. They are respected for their perseverance and ambition and often appear in history as leaders in their communities.
Order DNA origin analysisKnoelke: Where does the name Knoelke come from?
The last name Knoelke is a German name and is primarily found in Germany today- with many still living within the same state and region of its origin. This last name has since spread to other countries in Europe, particularly Scandinavian nations, and is a common German surname in certain neighborhoods.
The first known bearer of the surname was 12th century blacksmith Ulrich Knoelke, an ancestor to the predominant lineage that exists today. Knoelke is considered a representative of the Rheinland dialect of German, and is also present as an alternate spelling without the K.
The Knoelke family is believed to have come from the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany, where the Rheinland dialect is said to have originated. The origin of the Knoelke name can be traced back to the 1100s, and some believe it might have been derived from the Dutch word "Knoll," which meant a hill or knoll.
Today, Knoelke exists primarily in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and in parts of the United States, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. It can also be found in various other countries, such as France, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic.
Knoelke is still a very common name in Germany and its neighboring European nations, and is especially used in the Rheinland area. It is likely that this name still has roots in Germany's past, but its presence has now spread to other areas due to migration.
Variations of the surname Knoelke
The surname Knoelke is a German variant of the more common Dutch surname Knolle, which is a topographic surname referencing someone living near a knoll. This surname is found in both the Netherlands and Germany in its various forms and spellings.
Common variant spellings in Germany are Knoelke, Knoel, Knolle, Knöll, Knoll, Knoell, and Knoelles.
The also German surnames Knoble, Knobel, Knoblauch, Knoblich, and Knobling are not variants of Knoelke, but are often confused with it. These surnames are derived from the medieval German word "knüppel" meaning "club," and were likely originally used to refer to someone known for their strength or skill in combat.
In the Netherlands, the forms Knoel, Knoell, Knol and Knolle are more common than Knoelke. The Dutch surname Knol (alternatively Knoll) is topographic in origin, like the German version, and likely also references someone living near a knoll.
The Dutch and German surnames Knoel and Knoell are also likely topographic in origin, while Knoppel is a patronymic form of Knoel(le) used to denote a person related to Knoel or Knolle.
German and Dutch versions of the Knoelke surname are also found in England and America, with various spellings including Knol, Knoll, Knolls, Knolles, Knolle, Knol, Knoell, Knoelke, Knoel, Knoelles, and Knopel.
Famous people with the name Knoelke
- Magdalena Knoelke: German author
- Martin Knoelke: German actor
- Vera Knoelke: German actress and singer
- Marie Knoelke: Finnish photographer and artist
- Rainer Knoelke: German sculptor
- Ulrike Knoelke: German director
- Franziska Knoelke: German actress and filmmaker
- Dmitrij Knoelke: German painter
- Wolfgang Knoelke: German organist and physician
- Wolfgang Knoelke: German racing driver
- Marc Knoelke: German music producer and artist
- Jan Knoelke: German cartoonist
- Marita Knoelke: German writer
- Irmela Knoelke: German dancer
- Roman Knoelke: German film critic
- Kirsten Knoelke: German director
- Kyra Knoelke: German TV presenter
- Martina Knoelke: German actress
- Florian Knoelke: German photographer and videographer
- Diethard Knoelke: German biologist