the hillock of the out-house, back-house
In 1841, the Ordnance Survey collected the local forms 'Knockaunacoolteen' and 'Knockanacoolleen', which John O'Donovan interpreted as the Irish name Cnocán a' chúiltín, 'the hillock of the small corner, nook'. It is clear from the historical evidence, however, that this was not the original name. Many references to this placename exist in State documents and other sources from the time of the Desmond Survey (1586); the land was given to Valentine Browne and it is frequently referred to in various documents relating to the Brownes in the 17th and 18th centuries. In all of these references, however, there is no record of a final -n before the 19th century. The following is a sample from the aforementioned documents: 'Knockanekulty' (1586), 'Knockanen Chooltee' (1618), 'Knockanenchooltie' (1620), 'Knockaneacultie' (1721), 'Knockancoolty' (1722). The pronunciation of the name must have changed during the 18th century or in the beginning of the 19th century. The earlier spellings of the placename all point to Irish Cnocán an Chúiltí; see cúil-teach in Dinneen's Irish-English Dictionary