Find out how popular the first name Knightley has been for the last 15 years (from 2009 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Knightley by gender

Based on the last 15 years of data, Knightley is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 79% of people named Knightley being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 7 female babies and 5 male babies born with the name Knightley.

The history of the first name Knightley

The name Knightley is an English surname that has its origins in the Old English words "cniht" and "leah". "Cniht" means "knight" or "servant", while "leah" refers to a meadow or clearing in a forest. Knightley, therefore, can be interpreted as "the knight's meadow" or "the meadow of the servant".

The earliest recorded use of the name Knightley dates back to the 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. At this time, many Norman nobles were granted lands and titles by William the Conqueror, and it's believed that the name Knightley may have been adopted by a family that held land in a meadow or clearing.

Throughout history, the name Knightley has been associated with various notable individuals. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Sir Richard Knightley (c. 1150-1215), a Norman knight who fought in the Third Crusade under Richard the Lionheart. Another notable figure was Sir Valentine Knightley (1508-1566), a member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, several members of the Knightley family played significant roles. Sir Richard Knightley (1592-1639) was a Parliamentarian who fought against King Charles I, while his cousin, Sir Ferdinand Knightley (1618-1677), was a Royalist who supported the king.

In the literary world, one of the most famous bearers of the name was Jane Austen's fictional character, Emma Woodhouse's neighbor and eventual love interest, Mr. Knightley, from the novel "Emma" published in 1815.

Other notable individuals with the first name Knightley include Knightley Chetwode (1884-1958), an English cricketer who played for Hampshire County Cricket Club, and Knightley Whitelock (1915-1998), a British Army officer who served in World War II and later became a successful businessman.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Knightley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Knightley, please contact us.

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