Find out how popular the last name Kunkle is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Kunkle.

Kunkle, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Kunkle surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kunkle in America

Kunkle is the 7142nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kunkle surname appeared 4,682 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Kunkle.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kunkle to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Kunkle

The surname Kunkle has its origins in the German language, with roots that can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in the regions of southern Germany, particularly in areas such as Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The name is derived from the Old German word "kunkel," which means "spindle" or "distaff," referring to the tool used for spinning yarn or thread.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kunkle can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of historical documents from the 8th to the 13th centuries. In this collection, there is a record of a individual named "Cunradus Kunkele" who lived in the town of Esslingen, near Stuttgart, in the year 1298.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the name appeared in various town records and archives across southern Germany. For instance, a merchant named Hans Kunkle was documented in the city of Augsburg in 1437, while a farmer named Jakob Kunkle was recorded in the village of Rottenburg am Neckar in 1492.

As the name spread throughout German-speaking regions, variations in spelling emerged, such as Kunkel, Kunkell, and Kunkler. These variations often reflected local dialects or the preferences of individual families.

One notable individual bearing the Kunkle surname was Johann Kunkle, a Lutheran theologian and reformer who lived from 1519 to 1574. He played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation in Germany and authored several influential theological works.

Another prominent figure was Friedrich Kunkle, a German architect and engineer who lived from 1736 to 1801. He designed several important buildings, including the Alte Oper in Frankfurt and the Schloss Benrath in Düsseldorf.

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, many Germans emigrated to various parts of the world, including North America. This led to the spread of the Kunkle surname beyond its German origins. One such individual was Johann Georg Kunkle, who was born in 1789 in Baden and later settled in Pennsylvania, where he established a successful farming community.

As the name continued to disperse globally, it underwent further variations in spelling and pronunciation. In some cases, the name was anglicized to Kunkel or Kunckle, particularly in English-speaking countries.

Throughout history, the surname Kunkle has been associated with various occupations, from artisans and merchants to farmers and intellectuals. While not a particularly common name, it has left its mark across different regions and cultures, reflecting the rich tapestry of German heritage and migration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kunkle

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Kunkle.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kunkle was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Kunkle has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Kunkle was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kunkle, please contact us.

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