Sir William Knyvett

Sir William Knyvett (c. 1440 – 2 December 1515) was an English knight in the late Middle Ages. He was the son of John Knyvet and Alice Lynne, and assumed the titles of Sheriff of Norfolk & Suffolk, Burgess of Melcombe, Bletchingley, & Grantham, Constable of Rising Castle.

Sir William married three times. The first was to Alice Grey, daughter of John Grey, Esq., of Kempston, eldest son of Reginald Grey, 3rd Baron Grey de Ruthyn by his second wife, Joan Astley; by whom he had issue. His second marriage was to Lady Joan Stafford, daughter of Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Lady Anne Neville, by whom he had issue. His final marriage was to Lady Joan Courtenay, widow of Sir Roger Clifford, and daughter of Thomas de Courtenay, 5th Earl of Devon, a friend of York, and his wife, Lady Margaret Beaufort; they had no issue.

Sir William Knyvett died December 2, 1515 in Wymondham, Norfolk.

His children by his first wife, Alice Grey, were Sir Edmund Knyvett of Buckenham, who married Eleanor Tyrrell; Anne Knyvett who married John Thwaites, Esq.; Bennet Knyvett; and Elizabeth Knyvett. By his second wife, Lady Joan Stafford, Knyvett had three sons including Sir Edward Knyvett and Charles Knyvett; along with three daughters including Anne Knyvett who married Charles Clifford, Esq.