diff --git a/AUTHORS.rst b/AUTHORS.rst
index 00d91f286..0d8f28aa6 100644
--- a/AUTHORS.rst
+++ b/AUTHORS.rst
@@ -140,3 +140,4 @@ Contributors (chronological)
 - `@phrfpeixoto <https://github.com/phrfpeixoto>`_
 - `@jceresini <https://github.com/jceresini>`_
 - Nikolay Shebanov `@killthekitten <https://github.com/killthekitten>`_
+- Laurent Mignon `@lmignon <https://github.com/lmignon>`_ 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/marshmallow/fields.py b/src/marshmallow/fields.py
index 003c33ae8..1e7651c43 100644
--- a/src/marshmallow/fields.py
+++ b/src/marshmallow/fields.py
@@ -567,11 +567,12 @@ def _test_collection(self, value, many=False):
         if many and not utils.is_collection(value):
             raise self.make_error("type", input=value, type=value.__class__.__name__)
 
-    def _load(self, value, data, partial=None, many=False):
+    def _load(self, value, data, partial=None, many=False, unknown=None):
         many = self.schema.many or self.many or many
+        unknown = unknown or self.unknown
         try:
             valid_data = self.schema.load(
-                value, unknown=self.unknown, partial=partial, many=many
+                value, unknown=unknown, partial=partial, many=many
             )
         except ValidationError as error:
             raise ValidationError(
@@ -579,17 +580,23 @@ def _load(self, value, data, partial=None, many=False):
             ) from error
         return valid_data
 
-    def _deserialize(self, value, attr, data, partial=None, many=False, **kwargs):
+    def _deserialize(
+        self, value, attr, data, partial=None, many=False, unknown=None, **kwargs
+    ):
         """Same as :meth:`Field._deserialize` with additional ``partial`` argument.
 
         :param bool|tuple partial: For nested schemas, the ``partial``
             parameter passed to `Schema.load`.
+        :param unknown: For nested schemas, the ``unknown``
+            parameter passed to `Schema.load`..
 
         .. versionchanged:: 3.0.0
             Add ``partial`` parameter.
+        .. versionchanged:: 3.2.2
+            Add ``unknown`` parameter.
         """
         self._test_collection(value, many=many)
-        return self._load(value, data, partial=partial, many=many)
+        return self._load(value, data, partial=partial, many=many, unknown=unknown)
 
 
 class Pluck(Nested):
diff --git a/src/marshmallow/schema.py b/src/marshmallow/schema.py
index 7265514fe..634933742 100644
--- a/src/marshmallow/schema.py
+++ b/src/marshmallow/schema.py
@@ -652,6 +652,7 @@ def _deserialize(
                     d_kwargs["partial"] = sub_partial
                 else:
                     d_kwargs["partial"] = partial
+                d_kwargs["unknown"] = unknown
                 getter = lambda val: field_obj.deserialize(
                     val, field_name, data, **d_kwargs
                 )
@@ -665,6 +666,7 @@ def _deserialize(
                 if value is not missing:
                     key = field_obj.attribute or attr_name
                     set_value(typing.cast(typing.Dict, ret), key, value)
+            unknown = unknown or self.unknown
             if unknown != EXCLUDE:
                 fields = {
                     field_obj.data_key if field_obj.data_key is not None else field_name
@@ -823,7 +825,6 @@ def _do_load(
         error_store = ErrorStore()
         errors = {}  # type: typing.Dict[str, typing.List[str]]
         many = self.many if many is None else bool(many)
-        unknown = unknown or self.unknown
         if partial is None:
             partial = self.partial
         # Run preprocessors
diff --git a/tests/test_schema.py b/tests/test_schema.py
index 2be35b775..ec167fc5a 100644
--- a/tests/test_schema.py
+++ b/tests/test_schema.py
@@ -289,6 +289,23 @@ class Outer(Schema):
     assert Outer().load({"list1": val, "list2": val}) == {"list1": [], "list2": []}
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "val",
+    (
+        {"inner": {"name": "name"}, "unknown": 1},
+        {"inner": {"name": "name", "unknown_nested": 1}, "unknown": 1},
+    ),
+)
+def test_load_unknown(val):
+    class Inner(Schema):
+        name = fields.String()
+
+    class Outer(Schema):
+        inner = fields.Nested(Inner)
+
+    assert Outer().load(val, unknown=EXCLUDE) == {"inner": {"name": "name"}}
+
+
 def test_loads_returns_a_user():
     s = UserSchema()
     result = s.loads(json.dumps({"name": "Monty"}))