Surname Knak - Meaning and Origin
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Knak: What does the surname Knak mean?
The last name Knak is of German and Dutch origin. It is derived from the German word ‘knacken’, which means to make a noise or to break something. It has been used as a surname for centuries and has evolved to become a distinct surname. It most commonly appears in records from the Netherlands and Germany, but it can also be found elsewhere in Europe and North America.
Knak is mostly found among families of Germanic descent. It is thought that the surname may be associated with somebody who made noise or was expert at breaking things, such as a potter, plumber or locksmith. Another possibility is that the name could be derived from the German word ‘knacken’ which means to gnaw on food. This could have been a nickname given to somebody with a particular habit for eating.
Knak can also be spelled as Knacke, Knaak, Knake or Knuck. This variety of spelling may be because of variations in the way names have been recorded over time. For example, due to illiteracy, high rates of migration or changes in language over generations.
Knak has been used by families around the world and today, is used by people of many different cultures and nationalities. Although its definition has evolved over time, it is still associated with somebody who is noisy or interested in breaking or eating things.
Order DNA origin analysisKnak: Where does the name Knak come from?
The last name Knak is of Dutch origin and is primarily found in the Netherlands. It is also common in countries which have a strong connection to the Netherlands, including parts of South America, Canada, Australia, and the United States. In the Netherlands, Knak is among the top 250 most common surnames, making it one of the more common last names in the country.
In the United States, the surname Knak can mostly be found in the Midwest, particularly in Michigan. According to the Social Security Administration, there were only about 400 people in America with the last name Knak in 2019. That’s significantly less than other Dutch last names such as VanDermeer or Meinders which were both in the top 800.
Knak may also be found in countries like Australia, Canada, and South America due to the historical movement of Dutch immigrants in the past centuries. Most of the Dutch migrants went to these countries to settle, and their descendants have kept the name Knak.
Overall, the last name Knak is not particularly common in most countries, but can still be found in regions with a strong Dutch influence, such as the Midwest of the United States and parts of Canada, South America, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Knak
The surname Knak is believed to have originated from Northern Germany and is derived from the German word "Knacken" which means "to crack or to break". This surname has multiple variants, spellings and other surnames of the same origin.
Variants of the name Knak include Knack, Knackh, Knacken, Knackhoff, Knackhahn, Knackholz, Knak, Knake, Knakel, Knakal, Knakalski, Knayka, Knacke, Knackel, Knackle, Knackler, Knackelmann and Knackman.
Other similar surnames of the same origin include Knaak, Knackmuss, Kneckel, Knickerbocker, Knickelbein, Knichel, Kniechel, Knöchel, Knoch, Knochle, Knopp, Knopf, Knueppel, Knüppel, Knup, Knuppel, Knuppen and Knupperer.
This surname is also different in other countries with different spellings such as Knakk in Norway, Knakkila in Finland, Nakk in Sweden and Nake in Poland.
Overall, the surname Knak is well known and widely spread throughout the world with other surnames and variants of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Knak
- Malte Knak Pedersen, Danish entrepreneur and investor;
- Nicole Knak, German swimmer;
- Nicholas Knak, Wisconsin quarterback;
- Konrad Knak, German Researchers;
- Constanze Knak, German psychologist specializing in consumer psychology and research;
- Katrin Knak, German politician and former deputy chairwoman of the Free Democratic Party (FDP);
- Sonja Knak, German athlete, running for Team Erdinger-Alkoholfrei;
- Antje Knak, German composer;
- Steffen Knak, German ice hockey player;
- Julia Knak, German television personality, best known for her work on German MTV since 2002.