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

Knolton, 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 Knolton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Knolton in America

Knolton is the 66931st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Knolton surname appeared 295 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 Knolton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Knolton 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 Knolton

The surname Knolton has its origins in England, tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "cnoll," meaning a hill or a hilltop, and "tun," meaning an enclosure or a settlement. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or on a hilltop settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Knolton can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and population compiled in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror. The name is listed as a place name, referring to a settlement located on a hill. This provides evidence of the name's antiquity and its connection to geographical features.

During the Middle Ages, the name Knolton appeared in various historical documents, often in reference to individuals or families associated with specific locations. For instance, in the 13th century, records mention a Sir John de Knolton, a knight who held lands in Staffordshire. Another notable figure was William Knolton, a clergyman who served as the Bishop of Chester in the late 14th century.

As time passed, the name underwent slight variations in spelling, reflecting the changes in language and regional dialects. Forms such as Knolltone, Knoltun, and Knollton can be found in various records from different parts of England. These variations highlight the fluidity of surnames during the medieval and early modern periods.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the surname Knolton was Robert Knolton, born around 1290 in Warwickshire. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of Parliament during the reign of Edward II. Another notable figure was Thomas Knolton, born in 1412 in Oxfordshire, who was a renowned scholar and theologian at Oxford University.

In the 16th century, the Knolton family played a significant role in the English Civil War. Sir Henry Knolton (1588-1658) was a staunch Royalist who fought alongside King Charles I and was later knighted for his services. His son, Sir John Knolton (1620-1686), continued the family's military tradition and served as a colonel in the Royalist army.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, several members of the Knolton family made their mark in various fields. Edward Knolton (1654-1718) was a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, while William Knolton (1730-1802) was a prominent playwright and poet whose works were widely acclaimed.

These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds associated with the surname Knolton, which has been present in England for centuries and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, clergymen, scholars, soldiers, architects, and writers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Knolton

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

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

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

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