Surname Kuenckel - Meaning and Origin
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Kuenckel: What does the surname Kuenckel mean?
The last name Kuenckel is of German origin, deriving from the old German first name Kuno or Kunigunde. During the Middle Ages, when names were often derived from job descriptions, the surname likely referred to someone of a royal or noble status, possibly a courtier or a relative of the royalty. The literal meaning of the name is translated to “royal servant” or, in some cases, “royal child”.
The Kuenckel family traces its roots to the Bavarian region of Germany, where the name first emerged in early responsibility records. Some of the earliest known spellings of the name include "Cunnkal", "Kuecncal", "Kunecal", and "Cunncal" (Kunncal). German emigration to North America and Australia began in the late 19th century, and families with the Kuenckel surname can now be found in both countries.
The Kuenckel family coat of arms is a blue and black shield featuring three silver anchors, representing protection and security. Blue and black are symbolic colors of the Bavarian region and the three silver anchors represent hope, faith, and charity.
The Kuenckel family name continues to be passed down from generation to generation and remains a symbol of a royal past. Those who carry the name continue to live by the family motto, “en fortitude et diligence”, meaning “with strength and perseverance”.
Order DNA origin analysisKuenckel: Where does the name Kuenckel come from?
The last name Kuenckel is most commonly found originates in the German-speaking region of Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The name is thought to have originated hundreds of years ago in Bavaria, and is first seen in written records dating back to the 15th century.
Today, the surname Kuenckel is still most common in German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly in the Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Saxony, and Thuringia regions of Germany where dozens of Kuenckel families still call home. With Germans and other European ethnic groups having migrated to the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries, Kuenckel can also be found spread out across North, Central, and South America as well.
In the United States specifically, Kuenckel is most common in the northern and Midwestern states such as Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, and Minnesota. According to the United States Census, the Kuenckel surname is currently ranked as the 15,383rd most common name in the country.
Many people with the Kuenckel surname have established strong family networks and maintain close ties to their ancestral homes in Germany. According to some sources, the Kuenckel family still owns the castle Dürneck in Bavaria, which was the original ancestral home of the family.
Variations of the surname Kuenckel
The surname Kuenckel is derived from the German word "Kuenk" meaning "corner" or "junction". It is spelled and pronounced differently in various parts of the German language speaking world. In Germany, the name is usually spelled Kuenckel, Kuenkel, Kueneckel, Kuengele, Kuenkle, Künckel, Künkele, Küneckle, Künkmann or Künkelmann.
In the United States and other English-speaking countries, the surname has been americanized to Kinkel, Kunkel and Kunkelman. These spellings are also used in Canada and Australia.
In Scandinavia, also spelled Kühnel, Kühnle or Kunkele, the surname has also been altered to Kunnkel.
In the Netherlands and Belgium, the name Kuenckel is spelled as Künekel, Kunke or Kunkel.
In Austria, the spelling Kuncl has been observed as well, which is derived from the Czech spelling of Kuenckel. In Austria the spelling Kuncl is also used, which is a slight variation of the original spelling.
In Poland, Kuenckel is often spelled Kuncek, Kunckel, Kunkel, Kunkle, Kuncl or Künkele.
In Switzerland, Kuenckel is usually spelled Kunz or Kunzige.
In French, the name Kuenckel is spelled as Künkele, Kunkel, Kunkelt, Küncl or Künkle.
Other forms of the surname include: Wynkele, Kunecke, Kunkelmann, Küncl, Künkeleh, Künkelemann and Künckle.
Famous people with the name Kuenckel
- Albrecht Künkel (1909-1942), German stuka pilot
- Christophe von Künkel (17th century), Swiss composer
- Erhard Kurt Künkel (1943-1999), German composer
- Günter Künkel (1929-1994), East German short track speed skater
- Johannes Künkel (1910-1998), German writer and theologian
- John Künkel (1890-1973), American Major League Baseball player
- Monika Künkel (1937-2005), German swimmer
- Ottomar Künkel (1904-1945), German SS officer
- Walther Künchel (1907-1978), German SS officer
- Wilhelm Künkel (1905-1987), German-born Australian painter