Meaning and Origin of the Knittel/Knittle Name and Knittel/Knittle Family The German surname "Knittel" was introduced into the United States by German immigrants at an early date. The "Passenger and Immigration Lists Index" records that one Joseph Knittel arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1753 with his wife Regina Magdalena Fuglin and son Johannes George Knittel, aged 12. Knittel is a variant of Knüttel and of nickname origin, descriptive of some personal or physical characteristic of the original bearer. In this instance, the name is a derivative of the Middle High German word "knüttel" meaning "short, thick cudgel, a typical farmer's weapon" and when used figuratively this term came to denote a plum, coarse and often rude person. Variants of this surname include Knittle, Knettle, Knettles, Knüttel, Knettel and Knöttel. (Other varients include: Nettles, Nettle, Nittle, Gnittle, Nipple) This surname or a variant appears in records since 1231 when one Walther von Weinheim, dictus Knutel is listed. Conr. dictus Knuttel is mentioned as living in Schönau, near Heidelberg in 1240 and Jesco Knütel is recorded in 1378. In 1438 Konr. Knittel appears in records related to Gebrazhofen near Wlangen and George Knuttel was mayor of AIsfeld in 1655. The "Lists of Passengers Arriving at U.S. Ports" contain a reference to one J. Knittel, a 24 year old farmer, who sailed from Bremen to New York on the "Child Harold" in May 1852. In September of the same year, Ferdinand Knitlel, a 28 year old tailor from Mecklenburg, and Friedrike, aged 25, were passengers on the "Southener" which sailed from Hamburg to New York. Marianne Knittel, aged 30, sailed from Le Havre to New York in March 1868 on board the "Cella". Her final destination is listed as Buffalo. Origin: Germany (Information above from "The Historical Research Center") The Town of Knittlingen, Württemberg, Germany From: http://www.ngw.nl/int/dld/k/knittlin.htm   From: www.MapQuest.com From: http://www.kraichgau-stromberg.com/en/frameorte.htm (Maps provided by Dorothy Knittle MacPherson)   Photos of Knittlingen, Wurttemberg probably where the Knittel family originated. See more photos at: http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=yfp-t-303&va=knittlingen&sz=all Stephan Knittel was born in 1550 and Johannes Knittel was born in 1572 in Groetzingen, Schwarzwaldkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany http://www.remmick.org/Remmick.German.Facts/PageGroetzingenMap.html The following pictures and many more are found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/gr%C3%B6tzingen/ More pictures can be found at: http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=yfp-t-303&va=groetzingen&sz=all Hans Knittel born 1595 and Hans Knittel born 1633 were born in Schwaikheim, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg Schwaikheim is situated about 25 kilometres east of Stuttgart. The population is 9,292. The municipality stretches from 250 metres to 370 metres above sea level. More pictures can be found at: http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=yfp-t-303&va=schwaikheim&sz=all http://www.sylvia-haegele.de/schwaikheimen.html Josef Knittel was born in 1752 in Schmiden, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Ehemaliges Wappen von Schmiden Coat of Arms from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Wappen_Schmiden.png http://www.thomas-scharnowski.de/schmiden/smi.htm http://www.metzgerei-weissschuh.de/unten.htm http://www.cityart.ch/spielorte_details.html http://www.fellbach.de/stadtinfo/stadtansichten/stadtrundgang/503.asp?Druckansicht=True http://www.fellbach.de/stadtinfo/bilderservice/postkartenmotive More pictures of Schmiden can be found at: http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=yfp-t-303&va=schmiden&sz=all Josef Knittel's 2nd wife and children were born in Oberesslingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg (Oberessingen means Upper Esslingen). More pictures of Esslingen can be found at: http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=yfp-t-303&va=esslingen&sz=all The following maps show Knittlingen, Württemberg; Groetzingen, Schwarzwaldkreis, Wuerttemberg; Schwaikheim, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg; Schmiden, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg; and Oberesslingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg, Germany. They are all very close to each other. The above map shows Schwaikheim, Schmiden and Oberesslingen. Groetzingen and Knittlingen are off of this map to the left. Groetzingen is found on this map and Knittlingen is very close to Bretten but not labeled. Schwaikheim, Schmiden and Oberesslingen are off to the lower right. Maps from: http://www.esslingen.city-map.de/  S.Q. Knittle is the coordinator of this surname resource center.  sqknittle@yahoo.com A member of the