Last name

Knowles

English

The surname 'Knowles' originates from England. It is a topographic name derived from someone who lived at the top of a hill, from a genitive or plural of the Middle English word 'knol'. It is also a patronymic name from the same word used as a byname for a short, stout person. Public and Civil registry archive's confirm that the surname 'Knowles' and or it's variant's, date as far back as the thirteenth century were a 'Roger de la Cnolle', from the county of Devonshire, England, is recorded on the Hundred Rolls in1273.Historical archive's have been unable to definitely determine the exact period of settlement in North America but It is believed that the forefather's of this surname were part of the exodus of migrants that followed the Treaty of Peace signed in Paris in 1763, when great Britain obtained ownership of the whole of North America east of the Missisipi River excepting New Orleans. The chief reasons causing working class people to emigrate were, poor crop yields, high unemployment, and the misconception that America was a land of golden opportunity. It is has been estimated that after 1769 some 20,000 persons a year migrated to the Americas from the British Isles. Today, 'Knowles' is the 'One thousand and fourteenth' most common surname in North America.

Heraldrys Institute of Rome strongly believes in the intellectual work of human beings and for this reason, given the type of its activity uses only craftsman work.

Behind our works there is always the meticulous work of heraldic researchers as well as our customer service is handled by experts in customer care.