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

Knick, 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 Knick surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Knick in America

Knick is the 24802nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Knick surname appeared 1,004 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Knick.

We can also compare 2010 data for Knick 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 Knick

The surname Knick is thought to have originated in Germany during the medieval period. It likely derived from the Low German word "knik," which means a bend or curve, possibly referring to someone who lived near a winding river or road.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century, appearing in various town records and tax rolls across central and northern Germany. One of the first documented examples is Johann Knick, a landowner in the town of Göttingen in 1287.

In the 14th century, the name began to spread to other parts of Europe, with variations in spelling such as Knycke, Knicke, and Knicht appearing in records from the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. It's believed that some of these early bearers may have been merchants or travelers who settled in new regions.

One notable historical figure was Hans Knick, a German metalsmith who lived in Nuremberg during the late 15th century. His intricate works in gold and silver were highly prized by the nobility and can still be found in museums across Europe.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Knick surname became more prevalent in regions like Saxony and Brandenburg. The 1587 birth records of the town of Wittenberg include an entry for a boy named Matthias Knick, son of a local baker.

Another noteworthy individual was Johann Christoph Knick, a German composer and organist who lived from 1638 to 1702. He is best known for his works for the church and his contributions to the development of the North German organ school.

As the name spread throughout Europe, it also found its way to other parts of the world through migration and colonization. In the late 18th century, records show a family by the name of Knick settling in Pennsylvania, having arrived from the Palatinate region of Germany.

Overall, the surname Knick has a rich history dating back centuries, with its origins rooted in the German language and culture. While not a particularly common name, it has been borne by numerous individuals over the years, including artisans, musicians, and early settlers in the New World.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Knick

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

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 Knick 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 Knick 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 Knick was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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