Surname Gunkel - Meaning and Origin
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C. Gunkel
read moreGunkel: What does the surname Gunkel mean?
The surname Gunkel is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German term "gunkel," which means "godfather" or "sponsor". The name is primarily a patronymic surname, indicating that the first person to bear this name was likely the son or descendant of a person who played a significant role as a godfather or sponsor in the community. Like other patronymic surnames, Gunkel would have been passed down from generation to generation. It's also possible that this surname was used as a nickname or occupational name for someone who took on the role of a godfather frequently. Thus, the Gunkel surname gives an insight into the family's history, pointing towards a possible religious and community-oriented heritage. However, as is common with surnames, multiple origins could exist, and the exact origins and meanings might differ among families bearing the Gunkel surname across different regions and periods.
Order DNA origin analysisGunkel: Where does the name Gunkel come from?
The surname Gunkel is of German origin. The name is believed to be derived from the personal name Günther (or Gunther), which itself originated from an old Germanic name, Gundher. Gundher is composed of the elements “gund” meaning “war, battle” and “heri” meaning “army.” Thus, the surname Gunkel can roughly translate to “warrior army.” As with many names, it started out as a given name and eventually became a surname, referred to as a patronymic surname. It was common practice in Germany, and many other countries, to use the father's name or occupation as a surname, hence the transition from a personal name to a family name.
Today, the surname Gunkel, like many other German surnames, is dispersed around the world due to migration and assimilation but it is particularly common in the United States (especially in Pennsylvania), Germany, and parts of Europe. It is important to note that name distribution can vary and change over time due to socio-economic factors, migration patterns, and cultural assimilation.
Variations of the surname Gunkel
The surname Gunkel is of German origin and it may have different spellings, variants, and surnames that originated from it. Some possible variations could include Gunkle, Gunkell, Günkel, Gunkle, and Gúnkel. It's also probable that there are non-German variants of the surname, considering the history of migration and the resulting changes in surnames' spellings after immigrations.
Additionally, the surnames could have evolved into or from other similar names. Possible variations might include names like Ginkel, Gankel, Gunckel, Gynkel, Gunke, Glinkel, and Gonkel.
This surname could have been related to the profession of the individual, their location, or a personal identifier. For instance, it could be connected to geographical identifiers such as hilly or uneven terrain (as 'küngel' means 'hill' in Middle Low German).
However, without genealogical research or linguistic expertise, it's hard to definitively identify all possible variants and related surnames for the Gunkel surname. Therefore, this list is not exhaustive but provides a likely range of possibilities.
Famous people with the name Gunkel
- Mike Gunkel: former pitcher for the Detroit Tigers.
- Nate Gunkel: former college basketball player for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
- Roger Gunkel: former English footballer and cricketer.
- Paul Gunkel: German Olympic diver, who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.
- Ron Gunkel: Senior Vice President of Production for the National Basketball Association.
- Alice Paul Gunkel: suffragist, feminist, and social reformer.
- Philippe Gunkel: French opera composer.
- Joe Gunkel: current pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles.
- Heinrich Gunkel: German Protestant theologian and biblical scholar.
- Johannes Gunkel: German pastor and hymnwriter.
- Laura Gunkel: German economics professor and a specialist in the field of energy industry.
- Randall Gunkel: former American track and field athlete.
- Edward Gunkel: former American professional golfer.
- Georg Gunkel: German classical philologist.
- Rahel Gunkel: German lawyer, and one of the most influential jury lawyers in German legal history.