Surname Knuckles - Meaning and Origin
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Knuckles: What does the surname Knuckles mean?
The last name Knuckles is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English words "cnucel", "cnocel" or "cnucelle", all of which mean a hill-top, hillock, or a knuckle. The surname likely originated as a topographic name for someone who lived at the top of a hill or hillock, or near a distinctively shaped mountain peak that resembled a knuckle. Another possibility is that it could have been a nickname for someone with particularly notable knuckles. Over time, these specific words came to be spelled as "Knuckles". Like most surnames, the exact origins and meaning can be hard to trace due to regional differences and the evolution of language. It is always subject to various interpretations based on historical context.
Order DNA origin analysisKnuckles: Where does the name Knuckles come from?
The last name Knuckles is most commonly found in the United States today. According to the US Census Bureau's 2020 data, 2,539 people reported the name Knuckles as their last name. The majority of those people live in the South, especially Texas where 947 people have the last name. Other southern states with a significant number of people of the last name Knuckles are Georgia, Louisiana, and Tennessee.
It is a less common in the Midwest and Northeast, but it can be found. Michigan has 149 reported, while Ohio has 118, Indiana has 91, and Pennsylvania has 82. Outside of the US, the last name Knuckles is uncommon. There are only 20 reported outside the US, mostly in England.
Despite the name originating in England, Knuckles has grown to be an uncommon but still visible last name across the United States. It is most popular in southern regions of the United States, but it can also be found throughout the Midwest and Northeast.
Variations of the surname Knuckles
The surname Knuckles is an interesting surname that has many variants. It is believed that the surname derived from the Middle English knokke which means “the knob of a door.”
Some other variations of the Knuckles surname are Knoke, Nuckles, Knuckel, Knechtle, Knochle, Knuckel, Knoackle, and Knuppel.
The German versions of the surname are Knokel, Knöchel, Knüchel, Knickl, Knickling, Knall, and Knipper.
The Dutch version of the surname is Knol.
In Scotland, the surname has been recorded as Nuckle.
And variations of the surname have been recorded in France, such as Knecox and Knecohe.
In the United States, the Knuckles surname is often spelled with a ‘K’ or a ‘C’, such as Knuckles, Knuckles, Knuckes, and Kneccles.
In some cases, the surname has been recorded with a hyphen, such as Knuckles-Michaelson or Knuckles-Smith.
Knuckles is not a common surname, but it is not unheard of. It is likely that the surname originated from a single individual, and has been passed down through the generations.
Famous people with the name Knuckles
- Stan “The Man” Knuckles, Professional Wrestler
- Robert Knuckles, CGI Artist
- Eddie “Knuckles” Smith, Professional Bodybuilder and 1960’s Mr. Olympia
- Clarence “Frogman” Henry, Musician
- Marv “Knuckles” Applegate, NFL Player
- Bruce “Knuckles” Weber, NFL Player
- Eugene “Knuckles” Nash, NFL Player
- Pat Knuckles, NFL Player
- Eric Knuckles, former Professional Basketball Player
- Leo “Knuckles” Harvey, Professional Boxer
- Reine “Knuckles” Harrington, Singer and Musician
- William “Knuckles” Ditmus, Professional Gamer
- Stephen Knuckles, Actor
- Cameron “Knuckles” Swanson, NFL Player
- Carter Knuckles, Actor
- Daniel “Knuckles” Bolton, Professional Wrestler
- Henry Knuckles, Air force Officer
- Jessica “Knuckles” Donahue, Professional model
- Joe “Knuckles” Davis, Professional Golfer
- Kelsey Knuckles, Sports Analyst