Among the immigrants who came over with Sir Richard Saltonstall in 1630 were two men, NICHOLAS KNAPP and WILLIAM KNOPP (KNAPP). These two were possibly brothers, although there is no evidence to support same1. The two individuals spelled their names differently. The two differ in age by about twenty-five years, a full generation1. . Nicholas Knapp and William Knopp, were among the first settlers of Watertown, Mass. William and family remained in Watertown, where Nicholas and his children moved to Connecticut2. . Nicholas and William are NOT one in the same, and should not be merged. The children of Nicholas removed to Connecticut and are the ancestors of the Knapp's of that state, of Western Mass, of New York and states farther west2. WILLIAM who remained in Watertown, is the ancestor of those of the name in central and eastern Massachusetts, except the southeastern, where they are from Aaron Knapp who was one of the early settlers of Taunton. The Knapp's of New Hampshire and Maine are also descendants of William2.
There were many different spellings of the name Knapp, throughout Europe. Some of the spellings include Knopp, Knoppe, Knope, Knop, Knap, and Knappe. It wasn't until this family migrated to America that the name was " Americanized" to KNAPP. The name Knapp is of Teutonic origin, and comes from the Anglo-Saxon cnapa, which corresponds to the German Knappe, an esquire to a knight or noble2 or from cnaep, a hill, which, in the forms of Knap, Knop, Knob, nap, etc., occurs as a place-name in midland and southern England2.
== source ==
(2) The Knapp Family In America : A Genealogy Of The Descendants Of William Knapp Who Settled In Watertown, Mass., In 1630 : Including Also A Tabulated Pedigree, Paternal And Maternal, Of Hiram Knapp. By Arthur Mason Knapp, The Fort Hill Press, Samuel Usher, 175 to 184 High Street, Boston, Mass.
(1)"The Great Migration Begins" 1620-1635, Vol 2, G-O, Pages 1143-1146. Robert Charles Anderson, Great Migration Study Project, New England Historical Genealogical Society, 101 Newbury Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116.