This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Knocks,' from residence on the lands of Knocks or Knox, Renfrewshire The Knoxes were of that ilk at an early period, and sometimes wrote themselves of Ranfurly, whence the family of Knox, earls of Ranfurly in Ireland. The great Reformer was of this family (Lower's Patronymica Britannica).

The Renfrewshire family of Knox is derived by Crawfurd (Macfarlane, II, p. 276—284) from Adam son of Uchtred, who in the reign of Alexander II received from Walter the Steward the lands of Knock in the barony of Renfrew. The lands were named from the remarkable prominence there called "The Knock." The s is English plural. In 1234 the land of Cnoc in Renfrewshire was held under the abbot of Paisley by Duugallus filius Cristini and Matilda his spouse, who claimed lands in Kilpatrick as heirs of Dufgallus, the rector, brother of the earl of Lennox (RMP., p. 178). About 1260 John de Cnoc or Knoc witnessed a charter of the lands of Haldhingleston (Ingliston), Renfrewshire, and in 1272 he witnessed the gift which Sir Antonius Lombardus (Anthony the Lombard) made to Paisley of his right in the lands of Fulton to the Abbey of Paisley (ibid., p. 51, 58). In the following year he witnessed, along with William de Knoc, a grant of lands by Malcolm, earl of Lennox to the same Abbey (Levenax, p. 15—17). About 1272 Hugo Cnox gave to the monastery of Inchcolme two shillings yearly (Ross, Aberdour, p. 133), William de Knoc witnessed a division between the lands of the house of Paisley and William de Sanchor in 1280 (RMP., p. 228), and Johannes de Knoc witnessed confirmation of the church of Cragin (Craigie) to the same house (lbid., p. 233). In 1328 there are records of payments to Alan del Cnoc or Alan de Knockis (ER. I, p. 113,115). Uchtrede Knox of the Cragyns and Johne of the Knok of that Ilk were arbiters in a dispute between the burgh of Renfrew and the abbot of Paisley, 1408 (RMP., p. 406). Thomas de Knok held a tenement in Irvine, 1426 (Irvine, I, p. 130), George Knox was sergeant in Edinburgh, 1407 (Neubotle, 299), and John Knollis was sergeant in Linlithgow, 1549 (Laing, 552). William Knollis, custumar of Linlithgow in 1560, appears again in 1565 as William Knowis (ER., XIX, p. 111,294). William Knocks and John Knoks, indwellers iu Cunyngham Baidland, 1662 (Hunter, p. 60) There was another family of Knows, Knox, or Knollis of that Ilk in the parish of Deer, Aberdeenshire, quite distinct from the Knoxs of Renfrew. Marion Nucx in record in Aberdeen, 1408 (CWA., p. 316). John Knowis admitted burgess of Aberdeen, 1460, appears again in 1464 and 1475 as John Knollis or Knollys (NSCM., I, p. 17; RAA., II, 154). Sir William of Knollis, a member of this family appears in 1463 as rector of Quhitsum, preceptor of Torfichen in 1480, and prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, 1493 (CMN., 32; Peebles, 27; Bain, IV, 1594). David Knowis was retoured heir of Alexander Knowis, burgess of Aberdeen, his father, 1605 (Retours, Aberdeen, 98), and James Knolls was sailor in Aberdeen, 1721 (MSCM., II, p. 108). The surname is now Knowles in Aberdeen. Cnoxe 1558, Knoches 1311, Knoicce 1345, Knokis 1330, Knokkis 1468 Knolles 1463, Knows 1615, Nox 1570.

= Knock (q.v.) with the English pl. suff. -s.

According to Burke, sub nomine Ranfurly, the first of this family of whom there is any record is Uchtred, whose son, Adam, early in the 13th cent., obtained the lands of Knox and Ranfurly, co. Renfrew, from Walter, High Steward of Scotland, and took the name of Knox. In 1422, Sir John de Knocks, Lord of Ranfurly, &c., married the daughter of Sir Robert Maxwell, of Calderwood. The Reformer is said to have been his great-grandson.

Place name in Renfrewshire, Scotland (Knock).

(Scottish) One who lived on the lands of Knock (hill), in Renfrewshire and in various other places in Scotland; one who lived on, or near, a hill or prominence.

From the lands of Knocks or Knox, co. Renfrew. Knock, Gael., a round-topped hill. The Knoxes were of that Ilk at an early period, and sometimes wrote themselves of Ranfurly, whence the family of Knox, Earls of Ranfurly in Ireland. The great Reformer was of this family.

A little hill, from cnoc.

Local. Gaelic, Cnoc, a little hill; figuratively, a stout man.