Surname Knauber - Meaning and Origin

Knauber: What does the surname Knauber mean?

The last name Knauber is of Germanic origin, derived from the High German term ‘knauf,’ meaning ‘nut’ or ‘knob.’ This last name may have been used to describe a person with a prominent forehead, or have been a nickname for one skilled in cracking nuts. Alternatively, it may have been used as a locational name to describe persons living near a prominentty nut grove, or for one from Knau, a small village in Germany.

In the Middle Ages, individuals sometimes adopted the name Knauber to signify that they were related to a person who possessed the name. The more direct ancestry can also be traced to the ancient Dukes of Knauf, who lived in Germany from the 11th-13th centuries.

Knauber is not a common last name, though it is common enough to find varying spellings throughout the world. There are 21,360 people in the United States, for example, with variations of the Knauber surname. It is found among other countries as well, like in Austria, France, Denmark, and more.

The surname Knauber is still in use today and has quite a long history. It's safe to say that the name, which has been in use since early times, carries a unique meaning and remains an interesting reminder of Germanic roots.

Knauber: Where does the name Knauber come from?

The last name Knauber is primarily found in Germany today. In recent years, the surname has become quite widespread throughout the country, particularly in southern Germany. The name is derived from the old German personal name “Kunibert” and is still found most prominently in the Bavarian area, Baden-Württemberg, and Rhineland-Palatinate regions of Germany.

The name Knauber is also firmly established in the United States. Both is descendents of immigrants who came to the US from Germany and current immigrants from Germany to the US. The name appears to be increasing in popularity in the US, especially in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin, although it is found all over the US.

In the US, the spelling of the last name generally varies across different family lines. Some spelling variations of Knauber that can be found in the US are Knaeuber, Knauer, Neuber, Knoiber, Knobier, and Knobauer.

Finally, the last name Knauber has migrated to other parts of the world, including parts of South America and Canada. Although this particular last name can be found in multiple countries all over the world, it remains to be a rare name in comparison to the likes of more common surnames like Smith and Jones.

Variations of the surname Knauber

The surname Knauber is derived from the German word “knauf” which refers to a knob or a knob-like structure. This name may have originally been applied to someone who owned a property with distinctive knobs or a knob-like structure on the roof, or who made such structures for a living. It is also possible that the surname Knauber originated from an occupational name specifically for a maker of objects with knobs.

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Knauber include Knaufer, Knaub, Knaueb, Knauff, Knauffer, Knauf, Knauffman, Knaufmann, Knaubel, Knauberer, Knaubermann, Knauffman, Knaup and Knaupp.

The German language has produced several variants of this surname. In Germany, the spelling of the surname is often adapted to suit the regional dialects of each region, hence why many spellings exist.

In other countries, adaptations of the German surname have often taken place. In the United States, for example, the surname has been seen written as ‘Nawber’, ‘Nawbur’, ‘Knawber’ and ‘Knobur’.

Some of these variants and surnames have become quite well-known in their own right, such as Knauer (a common surname in Austria and Switzerland), Naubauer (common in southern Germany) and Neuber (common in the former East Germany).

Other nations have also adapted the Knauber surname, such as the Swiss version, Knöbler, and even versions of these names in Dutch, such as Knauwen, Knauwar and Knauwr.

The number of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Knauber is endless, and it can be confusing to understand which one a particular family originates from. Additionally, some of these names have been adapted for use in countries outside of Germany. Despite this, it is believed that all versions of the surname are ultimately derived from the original German version.

Famous people with the name Knauber

• Ruth Knauber: German actress
• Ryan Knauber: American football player
• Clemens Knauber: German actor
• Arthur Knauber: German and American economist
• Florian Knauber: German TV presenter
• Chester Knauber: American physicist
• Tom Knauber: German film director
• Markus Knauber: Austrian politician
• Anatol Knauber: German sculptor
• Berthold Knauber: German mayor and politician
• Rudolf Knauber: German professor
• Hanna Knauber: German singer and songwriter
• Hillel Knauber: German mathematician
• Arthur Knauber: German lawyer
• Hans Knauber: German politician
• Wiebke Knauber: German journalist
• Martin Knauber: German actor
• Rudolf Knauber: German writer
• Joachim Knauber: German politician
• Alexander Knauber: German film producer

Other surnames

Knaubert