Origin of the surname Knights

This interesting and long-established surname is of Olde English and Anglo-Saxon pre 7th century origins. Originally it was a status name deriving from the word 'cniht' meaning 'a mounted soldier' and therefore a man of some importance and substance. Later still, with the changes in the social structure of medieval England, the term 'knight' whilst still principally applying to a horse soldier, also described a status conferred by the king on men who had served him well, but not necessarily in battle.

These people were often referred to as 'Sir Knight', although later the suffix was dropped. The modern surname can be found as Knight and Knights, the latter being a patronymic (son of Knight), Knyvett, Knivett, Knivit, Nevet(t), Nevit(t), Newit(t) and Newet(t). Early examples of the surname recording include Oscetel Cniht in the Norfolk pipe rolls of 1166, Walter le Knit in the 1200 Oseney Rolls of Oxford, William Knicht in the 1221 Assize Rolls of Worcester, and Alicia Knyghtes in the 1327 Subsidy Rolls of Somerset. Other examples include Elizabeth Knight who married William Smith, in 1622 in Dublin, whilst amongst the really unusual recordings of the name is that of Know God Knight, a puritan, whose son John (!) was christened at St James Church, Clerkenwell, London on July 1st 1638. The coat of arms granted in 1550 has the blazon of per chevron engrailed silver and black, three giffins passant counterchanged. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Godefridus Niht, which was dated 1166, in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk, during the reign of King Henry 11, known as 'The Builder of Churches', 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

The surname Knights. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Research into the possible origins of knights leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname knights is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation.

The surname Knights around the world

There is a considerable probability that knights has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where knights is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname knights provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.

History of Knights

The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named knights are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname knights, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of knights developed.

It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of knights could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about knights and send it to us, we will update it on this website.

Notable Figures Named Knights

We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname knights, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname knights were recorded by the chroniclers of the time.

The surname Knights and its bibliographic sources

The bibliography collects information related to the surname knights, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of knights are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of knights, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Knights