Save Type Surname (from occupation) Usage German, German (Swiss), Dutch Pronounced Pron. /knɛçt/(German) /knɛxt/(Dutch) [key·simplify] Other Forms FormsDe Knecht (Dutch) Meaning & History Means "servant, assistant" in German and Dutch, an occupational name for a journeyman or male servant derived from Old Germanic kneht meaning "servant, knight" or "youth, boy". Cognate to English Knight.