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

Knisley, 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 Knisley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Knisley in America

Knisley is the 9879th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Knisley surname appeared 3,273 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 Knisley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Knisley 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 Knisley

The surname Knisley is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It originated in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony, where it was initially spelled as "Knislich" or "Knieslich." The name is derived from the Old High German word "knies," which means "knee," suggesting a possible connection to a physical characteristic or occupation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Knisley name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from the 12th century. In this text, a certain "Henricus Knieslich" is mentioned as a landowner in the village of Altenburg, near Leipzig, in 1187.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Knislei," "Kniesle," and "Knisley," in records from the cities of Nuremberg and Regensburg. It is believed that the spelling "Knisley" became more common as the name spread across different regions of Germany.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the Knisley name was Johannes Knisley (c. 1320-1387), a renowned theologian and professor at the University of Prague. His works on scholastic philosophy and theology were influential during his time.

Another historical figure of note was Konrad Knisley (1495-1567), a German painter and engraver from Nuremberg. His woodcuts and engravings depicting religious scenes and portraits were highly regarded during the Renaissance period.

The Knisley surname also found its way into England, likely through German immigrants or merchants. One of the earliest recorded instances in England is that of Hans Knisley (c. 1550-1620), a German-born goldsmith who settled in London and became a prominent member of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.

In the United States, the Knisley name can be traced back to the 18th century, with several families arriving from Germany and settling in Pennsylvania and Ohio. One of the earliest recorded individuals was Johann Knisley (1735-1812), who immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1755 and served as a soldier during the American Revolutionary War.

Throughout the centuries, the Knisley name has been carried by various individuals, including artists, scholars, and professionals. Some notable examples include Wilhelm Knisley (1857-1931), a German-American painter known for his landscapes and portraits, and Robert Knisley (1921-2007), an American cartoonist and illustrator best known for his work in comic books and newspaper strips.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Knisley

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

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

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

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