Topics

• About the Knevitt One-Name Study
• Variants
• Origin of the surname
• Historical occurrences
• Frequency of the name
• Distribution of the name
• Data
• DNA project
• Contact Details

About the Knevitt One-Name Study

I began researching my Nevitt line in 1986. I have traced back to my 5xGreat grandfather John Nevett,

who married Elizabeth Fretter in Northamptonshire in 1761. I soon became interested in all occurences

of the Nevitt and Knyvett surnames.

The first Nevitt/Knevett study group meeting was in 1993. In 1994 the surnames were registered with

the Guild Of One Name Studies. Our journal The Nevitt/Knevett Historian first appeared in 1996.

Variants

The usual variants of the surname are-

Knevett,Knevitt,Knivett,Knyvett.

Origin of the surname

It is generally accepted that the Knyvett surname and variants originated from a Norman

pronounciation of knight,owing to the French difficulty of sounding the 'h' in cniht.

Some early references are-

Nicholas cnivet 1087-97, William Osbert Knivet 1199.

Historical occurrences

Many Knyvett's have been prominent. The following have probably been the most well known.

Sir John Knyvett, Lord Chancellor of England under Edward III.

Sir Thomas Knyvett a westminster magistrate, who led the search in the vaults of the houses of

parliament, and arrested Guy Fawkes who planned to blow up King James I, and parliament on

November 5, 1605. Known as the 'Gunpowder Plot'.

Frequency of the name

In the 1881 census Knevett and variants are recorded 141 times.

Distribution of the name

The Knyvett family can be traced back to Southwick in Northamptonshire from 1194-1442 when they

held the manor. Some twenty years after the sale of the manor the main seat of the Knyvett's was

Buckenham castle and Ashwellthorpe in Norfolk. A branch of the family settled in Suffolk.

Early records show the family in London and the home counties.

Data

Some of the data held are-

Entries from the 1881 census for England and Wales.

General Register Office- Births 1837-42, marriages 1837-1900, Deaths 1837-1920.

Family trees, The Mormons IGI Index. Various histories of the family.

DNA project

We have a Knevitt and variants DNA project with FAMILY TREE DNA.

Contact details

For further information, contact:

Mr Terence J Nevitt
49 Fairview Road,
Istead Rise,
Gravesend,
Kent
DA13 9DP
UNITED KINGDOM
E-mail:
Telephone: 01474 833810

This page last updated 20 August 2009.

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Profiles of other one-name studies registered with the Guild may be found here.