The organization met for the first time in 1978 when Joan Goodall KNOWLES arranged an informal gathering of KNOWLES cousins to exchange genealogical information. The original Bylaws for the Association were issued in November 1998. The original objective of the Association was to learn, document, and share as much information as possible about the genealogy and family history concerning the Edmund
“Old Silverhead” KNOWLES line. Edmund KNOWLES (1685-1762) emigrated from Bolton, Lancashire County, England to the British Colony of Virginia in 1699/1700. The research and documentation for the “Old Silverhead” KNOWLES descendants and ancestors will continue. In recent years, the Association and its members have increased the genealogical focus of the organization to include many additional KNOWLES progenitors who immigrated to the American Colonies before the Revolutionary War (some as early as the second quarter of the 17th century) and in some cases since the War. This expanded focus is in recognition of the fact that there were many KNOWLES families living in the Colonies (and in the States during the early days of an independent America) who were descendants from many different KNOWLES progenitors from the British Isles. Knowledge of the genealogy of all the various KNOWLES lines is necessary in order to understand the family history and assure accuracy of the overall research. Most, if not all, of the present day KNOWLES (all spellings) families descend from lines originating from a variety of locations in the British Isles; i.e., England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The present day generic name of KNOWLES in most cases probably originated during medieval times from an adaptation of the English word “knoll” for a small round hill. The surname for many British Isles medieval families living near or on a small hill may have evolved from Knock, to Knoll, to Cnoll, to Knowlers, to Knollys, to Knowlman and eventually to KNOWLES, KNOLES and NOLES and the other spellings in use today. Most of these medieval KNOWLES families from the different geographical areas in the British Isles were probably not related, but shared the same surname. A few of the medieval KNOWLES families from different locations may have been related based on the seminaries of the coats-of-arms registered for KNOWLES families living in significantly different geographical locations in the British Isles. Starting as early as the 16th century and certainly by the 17th century, some KNOWLES families migrated from their ancestral homes in Great Britain to other locations within Great Britain as well as to many locations outside of the Empire. The immigrations were primarily to the British American Colonies, but some also traveled to Canada, Bermuda, British West Indies, Barbados, etc. During the turbulent Colonial times in the decades just prior to the Revolutionary War, additional migrations of the various KNOWLES families took place. For example, many who were loyal to the British Crown, migrated to Canada. After the Revolutionary War, bounty land for War service started a whole new migration thrust within the former Colonies. As a result of the KNOWLES immigrations from Great Britain to the Colonies and then the migrations that occurred after the War, KNOWLES from different British Isles progenitors were living in some of the same regions of the U.S. by the early 19th century. In recognition of the wide and varied possibilities for the ancestors of present day KNOWLES families, this Association is now fully open equally to all KNOWLES families. In addition, the Association is building a KNOWLES Genealogy and Family History knowledge base that includes all KNOWLES families (all spellings). These revised Bylaws cover the mission, purpose and objectives of the Association as they relate to an expanded KNOWLES focus. Reference to KNOWLES families or lines shall be construed to mean any family with the KNOWLES surname regardless of how the name is currently or was previously spelled. In addition, some collateral lines that have married into a KNOWLES line on multiple occasions shall also be included for research and membership.
