Surname Nowls - Meaning and Origin
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Nowls: What does the surname Nowls mean?
The surname Nowls doesn't have a specific meaning traceable to an established language or culture and there is scarce historical information regarding its origin. Like many surnames, it could possibly denote geographical origins, professions, or ancestral names of the individuals who initially bore the name. However, it's suspected to be a variant of the surname Knowles. The Knowles surname is English in origin, derived from the Middle English term "atte knolle," meaning "at the hill-top". It was used to describe someone who lived at the top of a hill or a high spot. Remember that surname meanings can vary widely as they shifted through regional dialects and languages over time, and many contemporary surnames carry meanings unrelated to their initial derivations. Furthermore, spelling variations even of the same surname were common, since medieval scribes often transcribed names based on their phonetic sounds, potentially explaining the transition from Knowles to Nowls.
Order DNA origin analysisNowls: Where does the name Nowls come from?
The surname Nowls appears to be of English origin. However, it's not a common surname, given the limited records available. The few available sources suggest that it might have derived from the personal name "Noll," which is a diminutive of "Oliver," a popular medieval English name. Surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and physical characteristics. Therefore, the Nowls surname could represent a patronymic name, i.e., derived from the name of a father or ancestor.
Finding the prevalence of the Nowls surname in the present day is challenging due to its rarity. There is scarce data on areas where it is widespread today. However, owing to historical migrations and the spread of the English language, the surname might be found in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, or the United Kingdom. As such, careful genealogical research would be required to trace the distribution and lineage of individuals bearing the Nowls surname.
Variations of the surname Nowls
The surname Nowls may have several variants and spellings depending on the country and culture. These could include Knowles, Knolls, Noles, Nolls, Noel, Noell, Noul, Nouel, Noll, Nohl, Knoll, Gnoll, Knolles and Knowels.
The spelling of the surname may have changed over time, with "Knolls" or "Knowles" being more common in the UK and "Nolls" or "Noles" being more common in the US.
The surname Nowls could be derived from Old English 'cnoll', meaning 'hilltop' and usually given to someone who lived near a hilltop. One of the first recorded instances of this surname is John atte Knolle, in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex (UK) in 1296.
In some cases, Nowls and its variants could also be a patronymic surname, indicating that the individual is a "son of Noel". This would be particularly common in French-speaking countries, with spellings like Noel, Noell, Noul, and Nouel.
Please note, the variation of the spelling of a surname can often be as a result of an individual clerk's decisions when he recorded a person's name turned it into a surname.
Famous people with the name Nowls
- Brian Nowles: American football safety
- Coleman Nowls: Former NBA player
- David Nowles: Internationally renowned artist
- Mark Nowls: Actor and screenwriter
- Michael Nowls: Actor and singer
- Jasper Nowls: Indie rock musician
- Johnny Nowls: Fiddle player from the Appalachian Mountains
- Peter Nowls: Financial advisor and entrepreneur
- Quill Nowls: Model and recording artist
- Raymond Nowls: Former British poet laureate