History of your Surname
Get access to Dunkel family records.Start a free trial

Dunkel Family History

Dunkel Name Meaning

German: nickname from Middle Low German dunkel a byform of dunker ‘dark conceited unclear’ also applied as a byname for a blind person. Compare Dunckel and Dunkle .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Dunker, Kunkel, Dinkel, Punke, Denker, Punzel, Runke, Ducker, Dankel

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Dunkel family from?

You can see how Dunkel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Dunkel family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Dunkel families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 8 Dunkel families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 44% of all the recorded Dunkel's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Dunkel families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Dunkel surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Dunkel ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Dunkel. 14% of Dunkel men worked as a Laborer and 18% of Dunkel women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Dunkel were Clerk and Clerk. .

View Census Data for Dunkel | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    14%
  • Farmer
    13%
  • Salesman
    7%
  • Clerk
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    18%
  • Stenographer
    11%
  • Housework
    10%
  • Clerk
    10%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Dunkel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 9,000 census records available for the last name Dunkel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Dunkel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Dunkel

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Dunkel. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Dunkel immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Dunkel. For the veterans among your Dunkel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Dunkel military records

You've only scratched the surface of Dunkel family history

Discover More

What is the average Dunkel lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Dunkel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Dunkel in 1955 was 33, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Dunkel

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Dunkel family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Dunkel last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial