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

Knighten, 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 Knighten surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Knighten in America

Knighten is the 8724th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Knighten surname appeared 3,759 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Knighten.

We can also compare 2010 data for Knighten 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 Knighten

The surname Knighten originates from England and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "cniht" and "tun," which together mean "knight's estate" or "knight's settlement." This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived on land owned by a knight or someone who worked for a knight.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cnihtentun." This entry refers to a settlement in Wiltshire, suggesting that the name may have originated in that region.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various records as "Knyghteton" and "Knyghtentun," further indicating its connection to knights and their lands. During this time, the name was primarily concentrated in the counties of Wiltshire, Somerset, and Gloucestershire.

One notable historical figure with the surname Knighten was Sir John Knighten, a Member of Parliament for Wiltshire in the early 15th century. He was born around 1380 and played a role in the political affairs of the time.

Another early recorded instance of the name is found in the records of the Exchequer Rolls of 1436, where a Robert Knighten is mentioned as holding land in the village of Knighten in Somerset.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as "Knighton" and "Knighten," reflecting the evolution of the English language. During this time, the surname was also found in other parts of England, including Staffordshire and Warwickshire.

One prominent individual with the name was Sir William Knighten, who was born in 1560 and served as a military commander during the English Civil War. He fought on the side of the Parliamentarians and played a significant role in several battles.

In the 17th century, a notable figure named Thomas Knighten, born in 1625, was a successful merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol. He left behind a substantial estate and was known for his philanthropy.

Throughout its history, the surname Knighten has been associated with noble lineages and landowners, reflecting its origins as a name linked to the estates and settlements of knights. While the spelling may have evolved over time, the name's connection to medieval England and the feudal system remains evident.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Knighten

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

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

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

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