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Knysz appears to be the same as the Ukrainian and Yiddish KNISH, which is some sort of stuffed dumpling (my knowledge of culinary matters is sketchy). The Ukrainian KNISH, according to a dictionary I've consulted, can also mean "a small (thick-set) man." Perhaps it has the same meaning in Polish. Knysz is a Polish surname, Knyszek a less common variant, with a diminutive or familiar ending.
There is a website - www.polishroots.com - with a reference section that includes information on Polish surnames. It is possible to enquire there about the meaning and distribution of a particular name, but this service can take some time, it seems.