This small cul-de-sac branching off from Fleischergasse is first mentioned in 1643 as "Kniepaff." The name appears a second time for the continuation of Langgarten beyond the ramparts, commonly called "Kneipab." Both expressions are synonymous: on 18th-century maps, the Kneipab district is also called Kneiphof, while conversely the city of Königsberg-Kneiphof was already called "Knipabe" in the 15th century.

The historian Curike attempted to explain the name of the Langgarten Kneipab in the 17th century with an account that has been repeated ever since. He reported: "This suburb (Langgarten) formerly stood outside the city's ring walls, but in 1626 was mostly incorporated within the ramparts, and only a small piece remained outside the fortification, which is therefore now called Kneipab." However, this is merely an artificial explanation devised for a particular locality, which applies neither to the suburban lane nor to numerous other cases.

The designation Kneiphof is found throughout the former colonization territory from Königsberg to Mecklenburg, for both streets and settlements. The low-lying position of both Danzig locations, prone to flooding and formerly swampy -- the common characteristic of all places bearing this name -- lends support to a compelling interpretation tracing the word to a Slavic root: the Polish stem "gnębię" (to press down in water, to cause something to sink), which likely also lies behind place names such as Kniebau. Since this root is also contained in the Prussian "knieipe" (he scoops), this would explain the name's occurrence in formerly Prussian-speaking territory.

After the war, the lane survived for some years under the name ul. Slepa (Dead-End Lane) before disappearing during the suburb's redevelopment.

History