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

Knote, 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 Knote surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Knote in America

Knote is the 141140th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Knote surname appeared 118 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 Knote.

We can also compare 2010 data for Knote 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 Knote

The surname "KNOTE" is believed to have originated in Germany, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to derive from the Old German word "knotan," which means "to knot" or "to tie." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to an occupation or trade involving knot-tying or rope-making.

In some early records, the name is also spelled as "Knoten" or "Knot," further indicating its connection to the Old German word. The earliest known reference to the name can be found in a document from the city of Cologne, dated 1287, mentioning a certain "Hermann Knote," a local craftsman.

During the Middle Ages, the name appears to have been concentrated in regions such as Bavaria and Saxony, where it was borne by both urban and rural families. In the 15th century, there are records of a prominent Knote family residing in the town of Rottenburg am Neckar, with several members holding positions of importance in the local government and guild system.

One notable figure from this period was Hans Knote (c. 1450-1521), a respected master craftsman and member of the Rottenburg city council. His son, Johannes Knote (1482-1551), went on to become a renowned scholar and theologian, serving as a professor at the University of Tübingen.

In the 16th century, the name gained wider recognition with the exploits of Matthias Knote (1529-1603), a German soldier and mercenary who fought in various conflicts across Europe, including the Thirty Years' War. His memoirs, published in 1587, provide a valuable account of the life of a professional soldier during that tumultuous era.

Another prominent individual bearing the name was Christoph Knote (1617-1688), a successful merchant and shipowner based in the Hanseatic city of Hamburg. He played a significant role in establishing trade routes between Germany and the Baltic region, amassing considerable wealth and influence in the process.

In the 18th century, the Knote family produced several notable figures in the fields of academia and the arts. Johann Friedrich Knote (1725-1802) was a respected philosopher and professor at the University of Leipzig, while his contemporary, Johann Michael Knote (1730-1805), achieved recognition as a talented composer and organist.

As the name spread throughout Germany and beyond, it underwent various spelling variations, such as "Knoth," "Knothe," and "Knotten," reflecting regional linguistic differences and changes over time. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remained rooted in its association with knot-tying and rope-making, reflecting the diverse occupations and trades that shaped the history and identity of this enduring surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Knote

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

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

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

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