Map of England showing where the Knott arms are recorded
The Knott arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Knott arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Knott Family in England
The surname Knott has deep roots in England, particularly within the county of Suffolk where families bearing the name were well-established by the early seventeenth century. The name is generally categorized as a nickname, likely derived from the Old English word "cnotta," which translates to a knot. In medieval times, this name was often given to individuals who were physically stout or perhaps known for their cleverness in untangling complex problems. By 1620, families with this name were active participants in the local life of Suffolk, often working as skilled tradespeople or farmers who contributed to the rural economy of the region. As these early ancestors lived through a period of significant social change, the name became a permanent fixture in local parish registers and legal documents, marking the family as a stable part of the community long before many of their descendants eventually sought new opportunities across the Atlantic.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cnut
Old Norse name meaning knot or hillock.
This name
KnottA topographic name for someone living near a hill or a small rounded mound.
also spelled
Knotie
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Suffolk Archives, Parish Register Transcripts for Suffolk, 1600–1650
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
