KNOTT
Knott is a surname of English origin that has been recorded throughout the British Isles since at least the twelfth century. Its roots lie in the early medieval linguistic landscape of England, where many family names derived either from nicknames, occupations or places.
The earliest and most direct linguistic source of the name is the Old English word cnotta, meaning a knot or a lump. In the medieval period this could have served as a descriptive nickname for a person with a noticeable physical swelling, or more generally for someone who was thickset or robust. By the same token the word was also applied metaphorically to a knot of trees or a tangled shrubbery, suggesting a topographic designation for an inhabitant of a densely wooded area.
Another plausible origin stems from the Scandinavian personal name Knutr, a name that survived the Norman Invasion and remained in use into the thirteenth century. The popularity of this variant may be partly explained by the reign of the Danish king Cnut, often anglicised as Canute, who ruled England from 1016 to 1035. The continued prevalence of this personal name in the English population underscores its potential influence on the surname Knott.
In the Middle English period, knot also came to mean a small hill or projecting rock. This topographical sense might explain place‑based forms such as Knott End in Lancashire, and suggests that some bearers of the name were identified by their proximity to a notable hillock.
Historical documents provide concrete evidence of the surname’s early use. The pipe rolls of Suffolk in 1165 record a Walter Cnot, and in 1185 a Robert Cnot appears in the roll of the Knights Templar. These entries confirm that the name was in use, albeit in variant spelling, during the late twelfth century. A later example from the colonial era records an Abraham Knott, commander of the ketch Joseph of London, who sailed to New York in 1679. This shows the name’s continuation beyond the British Isles.
The surname has been recorded in a variety of spellings, both in England and abroad. English variants include Knott, Nott, Note, and Nuth. German forms such as Knothe, Knaute, Knode, Knotel, and Knodgen appear, while Scandinavian versions like Knudsen, Knutsen and Knutsson reflect the name’s cross‑cultural transmission.
Today the surname Knott remains a recognised family name in England, with a modest but widespread presence. Its survival over eight centuries illustrates the durability of early English names tied to physical descriptors, topography, and personal identities inherited from Scandinavian influence. Such a name retains its historical resonance while continuing to identify families across the United Kingdom and beyond.
Typical given names associated with the Knott surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Carole
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Gillian
- Helen
- Janet
- Julie
- Margaret
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Knott in...
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There are approximately 9,633 people named Knott in the UK. That makes it the 961st most common surname in Britain. Around 148 in a million people in Britain are named Knott.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Knott
- Andrew Knott - Actor
- Alan Knott - Cricketer
- Billy Knott - Football player
- James Knott - Cricketer
- Sir James Knott, 1st Baronet - Shipping magnate and Conservative Party politician (1855 to 1934)
- Charles Knott - Cricketer (1914 to 2003)
- Francis Knott - Athlete (1882 to 1958)
- Freddie Knott - Cricketer (1891 to 1972)
- Ralph Knott - Architect (1878 to 1929)
- John Knott - Sports shooter (1914 to 1965)
- John Knott - Cricketer (1901 to 1988)
- Cargill Gilston Knott - Mathematician and physicist (1856 to 1922)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.