Save Type Surname (from occupation) Usage English, German Pronounced Pron. /ˈnɒp.flər/(English) /ˈnɒf.lər/(English) /ˈknɔp.flɐ/(German) [key·simplify] Meaning & History Derived from Knopf (German for "button"), this surname was originally given to button makers or button sellers. A famous bearer of this surname is English musician Mark Knopfler (1949-).