Surname Knickerbacker - Meaning and Origin

Knickerbacker: What does the surname Knickerbacker mean?

The last name Knickerbacker is of German origin, with the first part deriving from "Knickers," an old Dutch word for "ladies' undergarment," and the second part coming from "Baker," an occupational name. In some cases, the name may also have been derived from the Anglicization of the Dutch "Kilkapper," which is from "Kil," meaning "church," and "Kapper," meaning "baker."

The name is a reflection of the traditional occupations of both genders in the Netherlands in the 17th and 18th centuries: women would typically work in or manage laundries and dress-making businesses, while men would have bakeries and other such industries.

In terms of pronunciation, the name is generally pronounced as "NICK-er-BAK-er", with the emphasis being on the second syllable.

Today, Knickerbacker is a popular surname in the United States, primarily surrounding New York City and is commonly found among Dutch Americans. It's also been used as a nickname for people in Newfoundland.

In terms of its contemporary meaning, the name Knickerbacker conveys a combination of business savvy and traditional know-how. It's a reference to the sort of cultural and practical heritage that is often associated with the Netherlands.

Knickerbacker: Where does the name Knickerbacker come from?

The last name Knickerbacker is most commonly found in the United States today. It is an uncommon surname, and has originated from several sources, including Dutch ancestry, English and German surnames.

In the United States, the last name Knickerbacker first appeared in the 1880s in New York. It describes someone who may have been a Knickerbocker from the original Dutch settlers of America in the 1600s. The Knickerbocker settlers of New York became the Dutch bourgeoisie of Manhattan. It is from this origin that the surname includes the knickerboker spelling.

The Knickerbacker surname has also been found in England, Germany, and even South Africa. Records show that the surname was used in the 1600s in England, and the early 1800s in Germany. In South Africa, the family was noted for its involvement in the South African War of Independence in the late 19th century.

Today, the surname Knickerbacker is still found in the United States, although it is quite rare. It can also still be found in other countries mentioned previously, although it is not as common in those countries as it is in the United States.

Variations of the surname Knickerbacker

Knickerbacker is a Dutch-American surname which is derived from the Dutch word knicker, meaning "button" and baecker, meaning "baker".

Variants of the surname Knickerbacker include Knickerbocker, Knickerbacker, Nickerbocker, Nickelbaker, Nickelback, Nickerbacker, Knickerbaker, and Nickerbaker.

The surname Knickerbacker can also be spelled as Knikkerbacker, Knickebacker, Knyckerbaker, and Knyckerbacker.

Surnames of similar origin to Knickerbacker include Nickel, Knickerbawe, and Nicker.

The Knickerbacker surname is found in the Netherlands, Germany, England, Scotland, and New York State, and has been in the United States since the early 1700s.

The surname is most strongly found in the Hudson Valley region in New York State. The earliest recorded American ancestor of the Knickerbacker family was Gerrit Martense Van Knewkawerk, who was born around 1650 in West Friesland, Holland.

Knickerbacker is also associated with the Dutch surname Knoppenbacker, which is spelled similarly to Knickerbacker. As a result, the Knoppenbacker name could also be considered a variant of Knickerbacker, as it has a very similar pronunciation and spelling.

The Knickerbacker surname can also be found in several other variants in the United States, such as Knicker, Knickerbecker, Knickbal, Nikkelbaker, Nickelbacker, Nickerbecker, Nickelbocker, Kneckbaecker, Nekkerbaker, Knekkerabaker, and Knekkerocker.

All of these surnames are of Dutch origin and can be traced back to the same ancestor, Gerrit Martense Van Knewkawerk.

Famous people with the name Knickerbacker

• Alexander Hamilton—Alexander Hamilton was an American statesman and Founding Father of the United States. He was the chief author of The Federalists papers and the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States.
• Philip Schuyler—Philip Schuyler was an American soldier, politician, and industrialist from New York. He was a signer of the United States Constitution and a United States Senator from New York.
• DeWitt Clinton—DeWitt Clinton was an American politician who served as the Governor of New York from 1817 to 1822. He was responsible for the Erie Canal and was a member of the Clinton family.
• Rufus King—Rufus King was an American lawyer, politician, diplomat, and Federalist. He was elected to the United States Senate and was the United States Minister to Great Britain.
• Cornelius Knickerbacker—Cornelius Knickerbacker was an American politician who served as a member of the New York Assembly. He succeeded Philip Schuyler in the United States Senate.
• Egbert Benson—Egbert Benson was an American lawyer, soldier, and politician from New York. He was a member of the New York Provincial Congress and served as the first Attorney General of New York.
• William Knickerbacker—William Knickerbacker was an American politician from New York. He served as an Assemblyman in the New York State Legislature in the late 1700s.
• Philip Syng Physick—Philip Syng Physick was an American doctor, known as the “father of American surgery”. He was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and was the first person to use stethoscope for medical purposes in the United States.
• Jacob Knickerbacker—Jacob Knickerbacker was an American Patriot during the Revolutionary War. He was a captain in the Continental Army and was involved in the Battle of Saratoga.

Other surnames

Knickerbacor