KNAPP FAMILY. The Knapp family were originally from Saxony, a province of Germany. By some they are regarded as Germans, by others as of Saxon origin; but their early history in England leads most of the descendants to fix their nationality as Anglo-Saxon or English. In the fifteenth century they were people of wealth and position in Sussex county, England. The name Knapp is derived from the Saxon word, the root of which is spelled Cnoep, signifying a summit or hill top. John being the given name, and living on a hill, he was called John of the hill; and there being others of the same name on the hill and said John living on the summit or knob, he was called John of the Cnoep or Knob.

Subsequently the proposition was omitted, for convenience sake, and he was called John Cnoep, the German formation John Knopp. and in English John Knapp. The family arms, together with a full description, may be found in the Herald's college,London. These arms were granted to Roger de Knapp by Henry VIII, to commemorate his skill and success at a tournament held in Norfolk, England, 1540, in which he is said to have unseated three knights of great skill and bravery. By the descendants of his John, these arms are still preserved as a precious memento of worthy ancestry. The arms of a family are what a trade mark is to a merchant. It is his own private property. It is generally expressive of some important principle. The origin of the arms of the Knapp family is given in English heraldry. It describes the arms of the Knapp family as used by John Knapp and by his son John, in 1600. It will be seen that this coat of arms is very expressive and full of meaning. The shield and the helmets, clad in mail, denote preparation for war. The shield on which the arms are displayed is gold, expressive of worth and dignity; the arms in sable or black, denote antiquity; the three helmets on the shield are acknowledgments from high authorities of victories gained.