Surname Runkehl - Meaning and Origin

Runkehl: What does the surname Runkehl mean?

The surname Runkehl is of German origin and is thought to be derived from the German word ‘runkel’, which means ‘distorted or crooked’. It is thought that the surname likely refers to a person with a particularly crooked appearance or body shape. The surname Runkehl is associated with people who have a certain sense of humor, as the root word implies a certain mischievousness.

People with this surname may also be associated with a certain amount of shrewdness, that of being able to think outside the box and quickly recognizing clever shortcuts or alternative solutions. This can be seen in practical problem solving, as people with the surname Runkehl have a knack for finding creative ways to get the job done, while not compromising quality of service.

Today, people with the Runkehl surname are spread out in many parts of Germany, as well as other countries. In the United States, it is generally concentrated in the states of Pennsylvania and New York.

Overall, the surname Runkel is deeply-rooted in German culture and is usually associated with being mischievous, shrewd, and having a good sense of humor. Its long history is embedded in German culture and continues to be seen today.

Runkehl: Where does the name Runkehl come from?

The last name Runkehl is most common in Germany and the surrounding area today. It is a German surname that likely originated in the Middle Ages.

Runkehl is a German surname derived from “runke” which means “little heart” or “little courage.” The name is highly likely to have originated in the Middle Ages during a time of increased surname use among families in the region. The name fell out of use during certain periods in later centuries only to be adopted by new families in the area in later generations.

The last name Runkehl is particularly prominent in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. This part of Germany was responsible for the earliest records of the name, so it is still most heavily concentrated here. The name is also quite common in nearby countries like Belgium and the Netherlands.

In Germany, individuals with the last name Runkehl can trace their family history back to the 1500s and 1600s. Among Belgians and Dutch families, however, the last name Runkehl is likely to be more recent as more families moved to the area in later centuries.

Given its German origin, Runkehl is quite rare outside of Germany and surrounding countries. This is mainly because the last name was only adopted by the families who were in the region during the Middle Ages and early modern periods. There are no records of the last name being brought to other parts of the world by migration or immigration. People with this name are likely to trace their ancestry to Germany or surrounding countries.

Variations of the surname Runkehl

Runkehl is a German surname, derived from the word "runkel," meaning "twisted"—a reference to a type of vine which curls in tendrils, much like a person's hair. The surname is common in northern and eastern Germany, particularly in the state of Brandenburg.

Variations of Runkehl include Runkel, Runckel, Runkelmann, Runkelmannchen, Runckle, Runkelle and Rinke.

More uncommon variations of Runkehl include Rankehl, Rankel, Rankhel, Runkhel and Rinkhel. Some more contemporary variants of this name may include Rankle, Rinkle, Runkelhofer, Runkle, and Runkelhoff.

Runkehl is particularly common among the Mennonites, a Protestant Anabaptist sect which has its roots in Germany. The family associated with this denomination generally used the spellings Runkel and Runckel, although some branches of the Mennonite Runkehl family also adopted the name Rankle.

The patronymic version of this surname is Runkelhouver, which is a name that denotes a person as the "son of Runkel."

Other variations stemming from the Runkehl surname include Röhnke, Rohnke, Röhneke, Ruhnke and Rohneke. These are all derived from the Old High German personal name Raginoh.

Lastly, variations of this surname, stemming from its diminutive "Runkelsche," include Runkelsch, Runkelschmeyer, Runkelschy, Runkelscher, Runkelscheer and Runkelschemier.

Famous people with the name Runkehl

• Egon Friedell:Austrian philosopher
• Wolfgang von Runkel: German poet
• Christian von Runkel: German Actor
• Anna von Runkel: German Actress
• Andreas von Runkel: German Actor
• August von Runkel: German botanist
• August Karl Runkel: German jurist
• Felix von Runkel: German Architect
• Hans Joachim Runkel: German Politician
• Helena von Runkel: German Physician
• Johann Friedrich von Runkel: German General
• Konrad Runkel: German Politician
• Philipp Runkel: German Painter
• Philipp Wilhelm von Runkel: German Painter
• Susanne von Runkel: German Actress

Other surnames

RunkeRunkel