Surname Knölke - Meaning and Origin
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Knölke: What does the surname Knölke mean?
The last name Knölke is of German origin. It is a combination of two elements of a German name, with the first element being “Knöl,” which likely originates from a word or phrase related to a knight or an army of knights, and the second element, “ke,” is similar to a diminutive suffix. Put together, the two elements likely reference Nobles of the Court or a small court of knights.
Knölke is an uncommon surname, as it is a localized occupational name only found in certain regions of Germany. It is a patronymic name, passed from father to son within a family. As patronymic surnames originally used the father’s given name as the basis for the surname, the bearer of the Knölke surname likely shared a common ancestor who was a knight in the court, whose given name was “Knöl” or something similar. Records of the surname date back to the thirteenth century, and today the surname Knölke is most prevalent in the state of Bavaria in Germany.
The surname Knölke has bearers all over the world today, with many bearers now living in the United States and Canada. Those bearing the Knölke surname today are likely descended from German immigrants who carried the surname to the new world in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisKnölke: Where does the name Knölke come from?
Knölke is a German surname, derived from a word meaning "knot maker". Today the surname is most common in Germany, particularly in northern states, and the Netherlands. There are also people in North America, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico, who carry this surname.
In Germany, Knölke is a relatively widespread surname, with an estimated 2,024 people living in the country carrying this surname. This makes it the 1,579th most common surname in Germany. The highest concentration of the Knölke surname is in North Rhine-Westphalia, especially in the regions around Cologne and Bonn.
In the Netherlands, the name is relatively popular. Various Dutch sources estimate that there are about 206 inhabitants in the country bearing the Knölke name. This makes Knölke the 2,082nd most common surname in the Netherlands.
In North America, the Knölke name is less common. Census data from the United States show that only about 346 people in the US carry the Knölke surname. This makes it the 16,597th most common surname in the US. Canada has a similar population, with almost two hundred Knölkes residing in the country.
At the current time, the Knölke surname is mainly present in Germany and the Netherlands. However, due to the ease of travel and communication, the name is gradually spreading to other parts of the world, including North America.
Variations of the surname Knölke
The surname Knölke (or Knölke) is of German origin and can be traced back to Lower Saxony, at least as far as the middle of the 17th century. It is thought to have derived from the Middle Low German word 'knölck', meaning 'small piece of land'.
Knölke is a frequently occurring variation of a name that can be found in various spellings, as well as in surnames of related origin, throughout Germany. The most common variations are Knölke, Knölken, Knölkel, Knölk, Knoelke, Knoelken, Knoelkel, Knoelk, Knolke, Knolken, Knolkel, Knolk, Knowlke, Knowlken, Knowlkel and Knowlk.
In some cases, Knölke has developed into separate surnames, such as Knöll,. Knoll, Knöle, Knööl, Knol, Knollmann, Knollmeyer, Knöler, Knöller, Knölig, Knoeller, Knoell, Knoelle, Knoellmann, Knoellmeyer, Knoeller, Knoeller, Knoelig, Knowll, Knowller and Knowllig.
In addition, Knölke and its numerous variations and spellings have also given rise to regional variants of the surname, including Knöelke, Knöhlke, Knöslke, Knösleke, Knößlke, Knößleke, Knuncke, Knunke, Kneulke, Kneulken, Kneulkel, Kneulk, Knelke, Knelken, Knelkel, Kneilk and Knekelke.
Overall, the surname Knölke has taken on numerous forms throughout its history, all based on the same root word in Middle Low German. Its variations and derived surnames are still widely used in many areas of Germany today.
Famous people with the name Knölke
- Johannes Knölke: German artist and director of the Foundation for Art and Culture Bonn
- Claus Knölke: German film producer and screenwriter
- Max Knölke: German graphic designer
- Mathias Knölke: German film director
- Karsten Knölke: German footballer
- Lisa Knölke: Austrian actor, singer, and presenter
- Albrecht Knölke: German physicist
- Peter Knölke: German astrophysicist and Professor at the University of Hamburg
- Lukas Knölke: German DJ and music producer
- Harald Knölke: German professional football player
- Philipp Knölke: German author and journalist
- Jakob Knölke: German Concept artist and Illustrator