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The Surnames - Knightley and Knight

Origin of the Surname Knightley

The surname Knightley is of English origin, with two possible roots:

Topographical surname: Derived from the village of Knightley in Staffordshire, England. This interpretation suggests the first bearers of the surname lived near or originated from this location.
Occupational surname: A possibility is that the surname originated as an occupational name for someone who served or worked for a knight or nobleman. This aligns with the Old English word "cniht" meaning "knight" or "servant."

The surname Knightley is most prevalent in England and Wales, particularly in the Staffordshire and Middlesex regions. However, it has spread throughout the world, with a significant presence in Ireland, North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

While the surname Knightley is primarily associated with English origins, it does have some established presence in Ireland, making it not entirely inaccurate to call it an Irish surname. Its presence in Ireland is likely due to historical migration patterns between England and Ireland. The most common spelling in Ireland is "Knightly", a slight variation of the English "Knightley."

Therefore, while the direct origin of the surname Knightley lies in England, its presence in Ireland and the existence of the "Knightly" spelling might justify referring to it as an Irish surname when discussing its distribution and presence across various countries.

The surname Knight

The surname Knight is found in both England and Ireland, with distinct origins in each country. In Ireland, it can be either an anglicised version of various Gaelic surnames with similar phonetic sounds (e.g., Ó Cnight) or a patronymic surname derived from the given name "Knight." Therefore, the surname Knight has a stronger connection to both England and Ireland, having distinct origins in each country.

Surnames can have complex histories and migration patterns, making it difficult to assign a single national origin in certain cases. However, understanding the historical context and prevalent spellings in different regions can provide a clearer understanding of how these names have evolved and spread over time.

Interesting People with the Surname Knightley

Keira Knightley: English actress known for her roles in "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Pride & Prejudice," and "Atonement. See more information on Keira Knightley"
Sir Richard Knightley: English politician who served as Member of Parliament for Northampton and Sheriff of Northamptonshire in the 16th Century.
Charles Knightley: English cricketer who played for Oxfordshire.

Variations of the Surname Knightley

Knightly, Knitteleg, Knyghteleye, Knightlea, Knightlie, Knightlee: Variations in spelling due to the lack of standardisation in the English language, particularly in historical records.
Kinightley: A rare variant with additional prefix "ki."

Coat of Arms and Motto for Knightley (where available)

There is no single official coat of arms or motto associated with the surname Knightley. This is because coats of arms were typically granted to specific families or lineages, and the surname Knightley likely originated from multiple independent sources. Therefore, there isn't a single heraldic representation for all individuals with the name.

However, historical records show several different coats of arms associated with families bearing the Knightley name. These variations arose from different branches of the Knightley family throughout England. If you are interested in learning more about specific coat of arms associated with the Knightley surname, you may need to conduct further genealogical research into your own family history.

Please Note

There is often limited information available on a specific coat of arms and motto for an Irish surname. Sometimes there are many variations, sometimes none, we have compiled a representative, but by no means exhaustive, selection. Please visit our Coat of Arms and Motto page for more information.