The village's name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon āc-holt meaning "oak wood", to which the final -n of the late Old English dative definite article "ðen" ("the") was accreted.

On 1 April 1969, following a concerted campaign by villagers it was removed from the Borough and returned to Kent, being included in Sevenoaks Rural District.

[4] NOCKHOLT, a parish, in the [Poor Law] union of Bromley, hundred of Ruxley, lathe of Sutton-at-Hone, W. division of Kent, 5 miles (N. W.) from Seven-Oaks; containing 539 inhabitants.

The living [priest's benefice] is a perpetual curacy; net income, £102; patron, the [lay] impropriator of [the rectory of] Orpington: the tithes have been commuted [cut with chancel repairs apportioned] for £250, and the glebe comprises 3 acres.

[10] Near Knockholt Pound is the London Road Evangelical Church, built in the late 19th century as a Methodist chapel.

The nearest National Rail station is Knockholt, though it is located 2 mi (3 km) away from the village in Chelsfield in the London Borough of Bromley.

[14] A new regular event in the village is the Knockstock music festival, starting in July 2013 and with plans to run in alternating years when the carnival is not operating.