Save Type Surname (from occupation & from nickname) Usage German (Americanized), English Other Forms FormsKneif, Kneip, Knef (German) Meaning & History Americanized form of German Kneif a variant of Kneip. A nickname from Middle English knif "knife dagger" (Old English cnīf) perhaps used for a cutler. German variant and English cognate of Knef.