Surname Gunckel - Meaning and Origin
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Gunckel: What does the surname Gunckel mean?
The last name Gunckel is a short and common German surname, with the earliest known mention of it being in the late 1300s. It is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "gunch", which translates to ‘knave’ or ‘servant’. In those ancient times, last names were often descriptive and indicated an individual’s profession or origin. It is believed that this name came either from those regarded as humble people reputed to wear dull, grey-coloured clothing, or from a story about a brave knight who wore the same type of colourful clothing and was known as the “Gunckel”.
The Gunckel name also appears in records concerning a well-known court in 14th-century Saxony. The court is believed to have been the ruling house of an area that was originally held by the Gunckel family. It is likely that some families took the name of their court as their own. Researchers have also noted that the surname Gunckel appeared in various German records, such as from the Elze parish in Germany and the homepage of the German Immigrant Genealogical Society.
The Gunckel name continues to be well represented around German-speaking areas of the world. During the 19th century, many individuals of this name emigrated to the United States, where records show there were at least a few hundred Gunckel families living in cities like Chicago, New York, and Milwaukee.
Today, many individuals of this surname are still distributed across the world, carrying on the unique German origins of the Gunckel surname.
Order DNA origin analysisGunckel: Where does the name Gunckel come from?
The surname Gunckel is of German origin, and today can be found primarily among German-speaking populations. It is particularly prevalent in the German states of Hesse, Thuringia, and Bavaria, and is also common in Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Outside of Europe, it is particularly prevalent in the United States, where it is typically associated with German immigrants who settled there in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The earliest recorded uses of the Gunckel surname in Germany are from the 13th century. During this time, Gunckel was found in the Franconian region surrounding Schweinfurt. By the 18th century, the Gunckel family had spread to other German states, and many family members left for North and South America when emigration was encouraged in the 19th century. As a result, the surname Gunckel can now be commonly found among German and German-American populations.
In the United States, the Gunckel name continues to thrive. According to the US Census Bureau, Gunckel was the 4,719th most common surname in the country in 2011. This ranking places it between Howe and Zepeda, and it is still considered to be rare given its European origins. Despite this, family members who still carry the name are proud of their heritage and often draw their sense of identity and belonging from their surname.
Variations of the surname Gunckel
The surname Gunckel is of Germanic origin and is also known to have several alternative spellings and variants.
Gunckel is the original spelling of the surname, but it can also appear as Gunkel, Günkel, Gumpel, Gumpeles or Gumpels. This is mainly due to the frequent mis-transcription and mistranslation of names from Germanic to other languages.
The earliest recorded use of the name in Germany dates back to 1223. It was also found in Yorkshire, England during the 13th century when surnames were first adopted in the country.
In Germany, the most common variations of the name are Gunkel and Gumpel, while the most common alternative spellings are Günkel and Gumpeles. In the Netherlands, the name is spelled as a combination of both spellings, Günkel and Gumpel.
The Gunckel family in the United States, which originally hails from Germany, is also known to have adopted unique spellings of the surname. These variations include Ganckel, Gankle, Gangle, Gunkle, and Gunkler.
Similar surnames of Germanic origin include Gunnet, Gungl, Gunkle, Gunkler, Gienckel, Genckel, Gancle, and Ganchel.
Gunckel is an attractive and unique surname that has been carried on by generations of families for centuries. Families bearing this surname are lucky to have a rich heritage that reflects their Germanic ancestry.
Famous people with the name Gunckel
- Harry Gunckel, US Justice of the Supreme Court from Maryalnd.
- Mary Gunckel, US Representative from Ohio.
- Tom Gunckel, Minor League Baseball pitcher.
- Wally Gunckel, a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.
- Michael Gunckel, TV, radio, and film actor.
- Louise Gunckel, poet and songwriter.
- William Gunckel, politician and businessman from Missouri.
- Elsa Gunckel, sculptor.
- Petra Gunckel, scientist at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
- Bill Gunckel, Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter.
- Deborah Gunckel, a professor at the University of Arizona.
- Ernie Gunckel, inventor and scientist.
- Joe Gunckel, painter and sculptor.
- James Gunckel, politician from South Dakota.
- Frank Gunckel, a Catholic priest and founder of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood religious order.
- Marcus Gunckel, botanist and entomologist.
- Ira Gunckel, Major League Baseball player.
- Elinor Gunckel, engineer and professor of physics and chemistry.
- Laura Gunckel, NFL football player.
- Luz Gunckel, early aviator and stunt pilot.