Find out how popular the last name Knapp is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Knapp.

Knapp, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Knapp surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Knapp in America

Knapp is the 825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Knapp surname appeared 41,771 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 14 people would have the surname Knapp.

We can also compare 2010 data for Knapp to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Knapp

The surname Knapp is of Germanic origin, specifically derived from the Old English and Old German words "cnapa" or "knappr," meaning "boy" or "servant." It is believed to have originated as an occupational name for a male attendant or servant, often in a knightly or military context.

The earliest recorded instances of the Knapp surname can be traced back to the 11th century in various regions of Germany and England. It was particularly prevalent in areas such as Saxony, Westphalia, and Essex, where it was often associated with landowners or nobility who employed servants.

One of the earliest known mentions of the Knapp surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, including "Cnape" and "Knappe," reflecting its Germanic roots.

Throughout history, the Knapp surname has been associated with several notable individuals. In the 13th century, a German knight named Johann von Knapp was known for his service to the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II (1194-1250). In England, Sir John Knapp (c. 1370-1438) was a prominent military commander and courtier during the reigns of Henry IV and Henry V.

Another noteworthy figure was Sebastian Knapp (1499-1567), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. He served as a professor at the University of Tübingen and authored several influential works on theology and church history.

In the 18th century, Samuel L. Knapp (1784-1838) was an American author, editor, and biographer who wrote extensively about the American Revolution and its key figures. His work, "The Life of Thomas Paine," published in 1835, remains a valuable historical resource.

More recently, the American writer and environmentalist Caroline Knapp (1959-2002) gained recognition for her candid memoirs exploring addiction and recovery, including "Drinking: A Love Story" and "Appetites: Why Women Want."

While the Knapp surname has evolved over time, its Germanic origins as an occupational name for a servant or attendant remain a significant part of its historical background.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Knapp

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Knapp.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Knapp was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Knapp has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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