Explore the Family Name Kenkel
The meaning of Kenkel
1. North German: variant of Künkel (see Kunkel). 2. South German: possibly a variant of Gengel, deriving either from Old High German gang- ‘go’, an element in many personal names, or from Middle High German gengeler ‘street seller, seller of haberdashery’. 3. South German: alternatively, a topographic name from Middle High German kengel ‘gutter’; or from a shortened form of Swabian Kenkelin, a variant of Künkelin, a pet form of the personal name Konrad or Kuno.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Kenkel in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Kenkel has seen a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Kenkel ranked 32,782 in popularity, with 660 individuals bearing the name. However, by 2010, the rank dropped to 33,810 despite an increase in the count to 673 Kenkels. This suggests a growth of about 1.97% in the number of people with this surname, but it didn't keep pace with the overall population growth, leading to a drop in proportion per 100,000 from 0.24 to 0.23.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #32,782 | #33,810 | -3.14% |
| Count | 660 | 673 | 1.97% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.24 | 0.23 | -4.17% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Kenkel
The Decennial U.S. Census data also provides insights into the ethnic identity associated with the surname Kenkel. The majority of individuals with this surname identify as White, making up 96.06% in 2000 and slightly decreasing to 94.80% in 2010. There's been no recorded change in the percentage of Kenkels identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native. However, there is a notable increase in those identifying as Hispanic, growing from 1.82% in 2000 to 3.42% in 2010. There's also a modest growth among those identifying with two or more races, going from 1.21% in 2000 to 1.34% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.06% | 94.8% | -1.31% |
| Hispanic | 1.82% | 3.42% | 87.91% |
| Two or More Races | 1.21% | 1.34% | 10.74% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |