Surname Runkel - Meaning and Origin

Unravelling the historical depths of the Runkel Roots with iGENEA: An enriching journey of ancestral DNA testing

An engaging tale of self-discovery and uncovering my familial roots, the DNA analysis at iGENEA enriched my understanding of my unique family name, Runkel. Through this insightful journey, I traversed ancient migrations, assimilations and possible connections to nobility, uveiling the vibrant tapestry of my ancestral odyssey reflected in my DNA.

T. Runkel

Runkel: What does the surname Runkel mean?

The last name Runkel is a German name, derived from the German word "Runkel." The word literally translates as "wooded hill." This name likely originated as an identifying marker for someone who resided in a house or village located near a small forested hill. The topography of this area would then be used to distinguish one family or clan from another.

Runkel is an old surname; records of the name date back to the Medieval period. It is believed that the Runkel family may have originated from the ancient Bavarian nobility. This noble family was known for their bravery and strength in battle, as well as for their scholarly pursuits. Since then, the Runkel family has spread throughout Europe and even to North America.

The Runkel family has been able to maintain their distinct identity in spite of many centuries of travelling. This is likely because of their strong sense of pride and commitment to their ancestors and their heritage. The Runkel name stands for strength, courage, and an unwavering loyalty to one's family. These are values that the Runkel family has been faithfully upholding for generations.

Runkel: Where does the name Runkel come from?

Runkel is a surname that is common today primarily in Germany and other German-speaking countries. It is a locational surname that originally referred to someone who was from Runkel, a small town in central Germany, located near the cities of Limburg an der Lahn and Weilburg. The name has an anglicized version of "Runkle", and is found in parts of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Data from the United States Census Bureau places Runkel as the 4,221st most popular surname in the United States. It is also the 2,921st most popular name in England and Wales as of 2019. In Canada, the Statistics Canada website shows that it is the 2,575th most frequent family name. Comparatively, in Australia, the last name Runkel is listed at 3,811th most frequent family name, while in New Zealand it is the 1,667th most frequent family name.

Recently, the Runkel surname is mostly found in regions that were part of ancient German-speaking parts of Europe, especially in the countries where the German language and culture still dominate today. Even with its low statistic within these countries, there are still proprietary lines of Runkel families living in these places. For example, Runkel, Germany has over 2000 registered inhabitants. Elsewhere across the globe, there is a slightly wider scattering of the Runkel surname because of emigration from various German-speaking countries.

Variations of the surname Runkel

The surname Runkel is a German name originating from the Middle High German word "Runcel" meaning "dark complexion". As a lowland German surname, there are many variants, spellings, and surnames with the same origin.

The most common variant of the surname Runkel is Runckle, a spelling variant used in Europe, North America, and other places around the world. Other spelling variants of the surname include Ronckle, Runcle, Runkle, Runkles, and Runkil.

In the United States, Runkle is the most common spelling variation for the surname, while other spelling variations such as Runkles and Runcle are less commonly seen.

Other variants for the surname include Runke, Runkl, Runck, Runkelberg, Runken, and Runkelmann. The various spelling variations of this surname can also be found in other countries such as Austria, France, Holland, and England.

In addition to the above variants, there are also various surnames that have the same origin as Runkel. These include Runkleman, Runkele, Runckleman, Runckles, Runkelman, and Runkelin.

No matter which spelling variation of the surname Runkel is used, it is certain that the surname originates from the same source with the same meaning.

Famous people with the name Runkel

• Hilary Runkel: Hilary Runkel was the first woman to become a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs. She has since founded two venture capital funds and is currently a spokesperson for the New York branch of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
• Jon Runkel: Jon Runkel is an American professional Lacrosse player who plays for the Toronto Rock in the National Lacrosse League. He has won multiple awards for his achievements in the sport.
• Gregory Runkel: Gregory Runkel is an American lawyer and former politician. He served as the 38th Wisconsin Attorney General.
• Amanda Runkel: Amanda Runkel is an American athlete who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. She is a 2-time NCAA Champion in the javelin throw.
• Stephanie Runkel: Stephanie Runkel is an American singer and songwriter. She is best known for her work on the Disney Channel show "Mickey and the Roadster Racers".
• Rupert Runkel: Rupert Runkel was an American film director, producer and studio executive. He worked on dozens of classic films including The Magnificent Seven, West Side Story and The Graduate.
• David Runkel: David Runkel is an American photographer. He is best known for his work with National Geographic magazine, capturing images of wildlife, landscapes and cultures from all over the world.

Other surnames

RunkeRunkehl