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Knabe Family History

Knabe Name Meaning

German: status name for a young man or a page from Middle High German knabe. In aristocratic circles this term denoted a page or squire (a youth destined to become a knight) while among artisans it referred to a journeyman's assistant or (as a short form of Lehrknabe) ‘apprentice’. In the 15th century a semantic split between Knabe and its variants Knape Knapp(e) resulted in Knabe meaning ‘boy’ and Knapp(e) ‘servant apprentice’ and ‘miner’ in modern German.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Knapp, Knable, Kase, Kibbe, Naber, Knabb, Nave, Kade, Knebel, Babe

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Knabe family from?

You can see how Knabe families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Knabe family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Knabe families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there was 1 Knabe family living in Alberta. This was about 50% of all the recorded Knabe's in Canada. Alberta and 1 other province had the highest population of Knabe families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Knabe surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Knabe ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Knabe. 29% of Knabe men worked as a Farmer and 15% of Knabe women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Knabe were Farm Laborer and Stenographer. .

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*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    29%
  • Laborer
    15%
  • Mechanic
    5%
  • Farm Laborer
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    15%
  • Seamstress
    12%
  • Servant
    8%
  • Stenographer
    8%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Knabe family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Knabe. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Knabe census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Knabe

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Knabe. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Knabe. For the veterans among your Knabe ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Knabe lifespan?

Between 1958 and 2004, in the United States, Knabe life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Knabe in 1958 was 55, and 84 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Knabe

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