Kunkle
A surname likely developed as a regional spelling of a German name such as Kunkel or Kunkel, often tied to a personal name or a descriptive nickname.
The #7,142 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 65,943 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Kunkle is most likely an Americanized spelling of a German surname such as Kunkel or Kunckel. Those names are commonly explained from a pet form of a personal name beginning with Kun-, especially Konrad, or from a nickname based on a short, clipped form. The exact pathway can vary by family, but the name is generally understood as German in origin.
History
The spelling Kunkle appears to be one of several spelling forms that emerged after German-speaking families settled in English-speaking countries, especially the United States. As with many immigrant surnames, local pronunciation and clerical spelling helped produce variants such as Kunkel and Kunkle. The name is relatively uncommon today, but its distribution fits the broader pattern of German-American surname adaptation.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Spelling changes like Kunkel to Kunkle are a common clue that a surname passed through immigration and English-language recordkeeping.