Knowles () is an English surname of Old English origin. This is a locality name meaning 'at the knoll,' a hill or summit, derived from Old English word cnolle or Middle English knol, meaning hilltop and thus describes a person who lived at such a place. It can also be an Anglicized version of the Irish name Ó Tnúthghail. It may refer to many people. Variants of this surname include Knollys, Knolles, Knoll, Knowle, Noll, Noel, and Nowell. A Albert Knowles, British trade union leader Albert Knowles (footballer) (1871–1950), English footballer Alison Knowles (born 1933), American artist Anne Kelly Knowles (born 1957), American geographer Angus Knowles-Cutler (born 1962), British politician B Bernard Knowles (1900–1975), English film director Beyoncé Knowles-Carter (born 1981), American R&B singer and actress Barry Knowles (born 1965), Liverpool Football Club supporter and "Spirit of Shankly" (Liverpool FC Supporters Union) member from Dudley, West Midlands C Cameron Knowles (born 1982), New Zealand footballer Carl Knowles (1910–1981), American basketball player Admiral of the White Sir Charles Knowles, 1st Baronet (1704–1777) (see Knowles Baronets) Admiral of the Red Sir Charles Knowles, 2nd Baronet (1754–1831) Chris Knowles, English footballer Christopher Knowles (born 1959), American poet Christopher Knowles (comics), American comic book artist and writer Clayton Knowles, New York Times correspondent Conrad Knowles (1810–1844), Australian actor Craig Knowles (born 1959), Australian politician Cyril Knowles (1944–1991), an English association football player Cyril Knowles (rugby league) (1915–1957), an English rugby league footballer player, father of the association football player Cyril J. Knowles (1905–1961), a British cinematographer D Darold Knowles (born 1941), former Major League Baseball pitcher David Knowles (1896–1974), English Benedictine monk Davy Knowles (born 1987), British blues guitarist and singer Dick Knowles (1917–2008), British politician Durward Knowles (1917–2018), Olympic sailor from the Bahamas E Edward Knowles (Royal Navy officer) (1744 – c. 1761), British naval officer Edward P. Knowles (1805–1881), Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island Eric Knowles (born 1953), British antiques expert F Freeman T. Knowles (1846–1910), American Populist Party politician G Graeme Paul Knowles (born 1951), Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, London George Knowles (1882–1947), Australian public servant and lawyer George Beauchamp Knowles (1790–1862), English botanist H Harriet Knowles (fl. 1845), the first actress in Australia Harry Knowles (born 1971), online film critic Herbert Knowles (1798–1817), English poet Horace G. Knowles (1863–1937), American attorney Horace J Knowles (1884–1954), author and illustrator Hugh S. Knowles (1904–1988), American acoustical engineer, inventor, and manufacturer J