Surname Knowell - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Knowell: What does the surname Knowell mean?
The surname Knowell is believed to be of English origin. It is thought to have been derived from either one of two sources: it could either be a topographic name describing someone who lived near a hill or a habitational name, denoting someone from a place called Knowell.
The habitational source likely dates back to a place in Kent called Knowle Hill, which was first recorded in 1222 as 'Knolle Hill'. This could have given rise to the surname Knowell or its variants, such as Knowles or Knoll.
Given the origin of the name, it has been suggested that it may potentially be interpreted as meaning either 'the hill' or 'the hill dweller'. Although there is some uncertainty surrounding the exact meaning of the surname, it is believed that it was most likely originally used as a surname to refer to someone who was a local landowner, as well as to distinguish an individual from a specific locality or from those who shared the same name.
The name has spread throughout England and other parts of the British Isles over the centuries, with some notable concentrations in Devon, Kent and Hampshire. Today, the surname Knowell is still existent in all countries where English is spoken, making it one of the most common British surnames.
Order DNA origin analysisKnowell: Where does the name Knowell come from?
The last name Knowell is most common in the United States today, especially in the northeast region of the country. According to the United States Census Bureau, the last name Knowell is most commonly found in the state of New York, where, as of 2019, there are 8,435 people with the last name. Knowell is also common in Pennsylvania, with 7,618 recorded as of the same year.
Notably, the last name Knowell was seen more prominently in the more rural northeast of the United States than in more metropolitan areas. For example, in the city of Philadelphia alone, there are only 472 Knowells. Meanwhile, in rural, upstate New York, there are a total of 4,572 Knowells.
Outside of the northeast, the last name Knowell is less commonly found. In Texas and California, for example, there are fewer than 1,000 people with the last name, while in Florida, Illinois, and Michigan the number is fewer than 700. Despite the relatively low numbers, Knowell is still present across the entire United States.
Variations of the surname Knowell
Knowell is an anglicized variant of the surname MacNéill, which itself is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Néill. The majority of MacNéill variants come from North Ulster in Northern Ireland and the surrounding areas, though some also can be found in the USA and Canada. Variations of MacNéill and its rendering in English as Knowell include the following surnames:
MacNeill, MacNail, McNell, McNeal, MacNeal, MacNayle, MacNiell, MacKneal, MacKneall, Kinnell, Knowell, and Knowall.
MacNéill is derived from the Cenél Neill, a hereditary dynasty descended from Niall mac Eógain, the first High King of Ireland. Cenél Neill refers to any of the related Irish dynasties who trace their lineage back to their progenitor. The prefix 'mac' indicates a descendent, while 'Mac' signifies a son. Therefore, the prefix 'Mac' was added to Cenél Neill to create the surname Mac Néill and its variants.
MacNéill is also the Gaelic word for 'son of Niall'. The 'MacNéill' spelling and its variants are the most common spelling forms of the Irish surname in both Ireland and the USA. Consequently, when the family immigrated to America, they dropped the Scottish-Gaelic prefix and anglicized the surname to Knowell. The variants of the surname with a 'K' such as Kinnell and Knowall arose from Knowell, and are other possible spellings that can be used to trace the family tree.
Famous people with the name Knowell
- Willow Knowell: British Model and Mental Health Advocate
- Dennis Knowell: Former college basketball coach in Indiana
- Clement Knowell: English footballer who currently plays for Dublin senior club
- Davion Knowell: American actor who's worked in film, television and print
- Margaret Knowell: Professor emerita of social work in the Netherlands
- Jonathan Knowell: British ice hockey goaltender
- Delbert Knowell: American singer-songwriter
- Kelvin Knowell: Music producer and record executive from Los Angeles
- Grace Knowell: British poet and author
- Robert Knowell: Author and former senior lecturer in archaeology