Surname Knowlan - Meaning and Origin
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Knowlan: What does the surname Knowlan mean?
The surname Knowlan is of Irish origin and has an interesting etymological background. The history of the name hints at an interesting cultural history between two countries; both Ireland and England have a shared claim to its roots. The surname Knowlan is derived from the Gaelic phrase “O’ Nuanain”, which translates to “the descendant of the champion”. This alteration of the original phrase most likely occurred when English settlers adopted the name during the Elizabethan period in history.
The Knowlan family name has a long history of being associated with people living predominantly in the Dublin and County Meath regions of Ireland. Records of the family tree date back to the 18th century, when they can be found as subjects of enquires into landlords in the area.
In modern times, the Knowlan surname continues to be passed down through generations. While many of the families remain in the Dublin and County Meath regions, many have since spread to farther parts of Ireland, as well as to different countries around the world. Today, the name Knowlan remains a proud reminder of its Irish and English heritage and of the proud heritage that is shared between the two countries.
Order DNA origin analysisKnowlan: Where does the name Knowlan come from?
The last name Knowlan is not particularly common throughout the United States. As of the most recent census in 2018, the last name Knowlan was found in only 754 households within the United States.
Though the last name is very uncommon, it is fairly evenly distributed throughout the country. It appears the most in California, with 200 households, followed by Texas with 95 households, and New York with 87. The next most common locations for the last name are Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois.
The last name Knowlan also appears in smaller numbers in the remaining 45 states and the District of Columbia. There are also a handful of international households with the last name, most commonly found in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
Due to its uncommonality, it is very likely that couples with the same last name are related in some way, although it is difficult to say precisely how without more information.
Variations of the surname Knowlan
The surname Knowlan is derived from an anglicised version of the Irish surname Ó Cadhla - meaning “descendant of Cadhla” - who was a legendary warrior from the 11th century.
The variants of the anglicised version of Knowlan, are commonly found as: (1) Knowlan, (2) MacOdhan, (3) Knoelan, (4) Nuelan, (5) Knowlens, (6) Knowlton, (7) Kynollan, (8) O’Knowlan and (9) O’Knoelan.
The variants and spellings of the Irish clan of Ó Cadhla (which gives rise to the English surname Knowlan) include: (1) Ó Cadhla, (2) Ó Caoileain, (3) Ó Coileáin, (4) Ó Caollain, (5) Caoillen, (6) O’Cahillane, (7) O’Cahillann, (8) O’Cadhlaigh, (9) O’Chillyane, (10) O’Coolan and (11) O’Quillan.
The longest form of the surname “knowlan” would be Ó Cadhla or Ó Caoileain, and these are the Irish names most commonly associated with the English surname “Knowlan”. There are several variations of this name, with different spellings and variations. Although the anglicised version has become the most widely used of all the known variations of the surname, the original Irish forms of the name still hold true in many areas of Ireland - particularly in the southern region of Ireland, where the family name is more commonly traced back to its original roots.
Famous people with the name Knowlan
- Elliott Knowlan: Professional Soccer Player for Florida State
- Richard Knowlan: actor who appeared in several films and television series including "The Office" and "Lost in Space"
- Brian Knowlan: actor, appeared in "Dark Shadows"
- A.J. Knowlan: Producer, editor, and writer of films and television series
- Tess Knowlan: Olympic rower
- Conor Knowlan: Curler
- John Knowlan: NASA astronaut
- Matt Knowlan: NFL running back
- Bill Knowlan: professional racecar driver
- Chris Knowlan: former Major League Baseball player
- William Knowlan: country music singer
- Ben Knowlan: acclaimed tennis coach
- Jane Knowlan: renowned wildlife photographer
- Emma Knowlan: professional dancer
- David Knowlan: award-winning composer
- Ryan Knowlan: singer and songwriter