Surname Trenkle - Meaning and Origin

Trenkle: What does the surname Trenkle mean?

The last name Trenkle is a German surname, which is derived from the Alemannic Germanic word "trinkle” or “trinkel”, referring to a trickling spring or stream of water. The name likely originated as a reference to the residence of the original bearer of the name Trenkle near some body of water, or possibly in or by a hamlet whose name was derived from the same root.

The name Trenkle can be found in a number of different regions across Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and is most common in the Rhineland Palatinate, Bavaria and the Palatinate region of Germany.

The surname has several alternate forms, including: Trinkle, Trenkel, Treinkle, Trinkl and Trinckel. It is worth noting that some of the alternate forms are actually mispellings of the name Trenkle, as the letter "k" is a more common letter in German than the letter "c".

The Trenkle name has made its way to the US, where it is still found among the German-American population, most commonly in the Midwest, where early German immigrants settled. Even with the passing of time and assimilation into American culture, many of the original German surnames, such as Trenkle, are still carried on by later generations as a point of pride for their German heritage.

Trenkle: Where does the name Trenkle come from?

The last name Trenkle is most commonly found in the Central European nations of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, but it is also fairly prevalent in the United States, particularly in Midwest states such as Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. In Germany, the name is spelled Trenkel, and in neighboring Austria, it is spelled Trenkler. The surname is believed to have originated in medieval times, likely derived from a place name.

In the United States, the surname is found among both German-American families and those of British or French heritage. Its distribution in American states suggests its strongest concentration is in the Upper Midwest where many Germans immigrated in the 19th century. It is also known to have been prevalent prior to this as a German-American name.

The surname Trenkle can also be found in other countries, including Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands, as well as in Jewish records in Europe, indicating that it may have Jewish origins. Despite its origins, the surname is still popular today in many parts of the world. Thanks to immigration to other countries over the centuries, the name is present in locations as far flung as South Africa and Madagascar.

Variations of the surname Trenkle

The surname Trenkle has many variant spellings and other surnames of the same origin. Some of the most popular variant spellings of Trenkle are Trenkel, Trinkle and Trenchel. All of these spellings originate from the German word “trenkel” which was used to describe a small kind of clay or stone-made cooking vessel which was used in the olden days.

Other surnames which have the same origin include Tronkel, Trunkel, Tronkle, Trunkle, Trankle and Troncle. All of these surnames have the same pronunciation and are derived from the same German word “trenkel”.

In German speaking countries, the surname Trunkle is often used to refer to a person who is crafty or a trickster. The surname is also popular among people of Jewish origin who have adopted it from the German word “trenkel” and use it as a variant of their own.

In the United States, the surname Trenkle is mostly seen among Pennsylvania Dutch settlers. It can also be found in other European countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the Czech Republic.

The variations and alternate spellings of the surname Trenkle provide an interesting insight into the history and development of the surname.

Famous people with the name Trenkle

• Frank Trenkle, German scientist and Professor for Health Informatics at the University of Witten: Herdecke.
• Ryan Trenkle, Executive Vice President, Office of the Commissioner at MLB.
• Nate Trenkle, former basketball player and member of the gold-medal winning USA team at the 2002 FIBA World U21 Championship.
• Hermann Trenkle, German poet, fiction writer, and award-winning children’s author.
• Thomas Trenkle, German music composer, singer, and lyricist.
• Jeff Trenkle, American entrepreneur and Founder/CEO of Rock The Boat Audio.
• Maxwell Trenkle, co-founder of 36Kr, an online media platform for entrepreneurs and startup businesses.
• Robin Trenkle, professional golfer and winner of the 1991 German Professional Championship and the 2001 German Senior Tour Championship.
• Andrew Trenkle, American businessman, banker, and founder/CEO of South Texas Money Management.
• Steven Trenkle, Australian rugby player and former Wallabies representative.

Other surnames

TrenkelTrenkl