The Runkle One-Name Study (ONS) was initiated by Stephen Pritt in 2006 through the establishment of a The Next Generation of Genealogy Sitebuilding (TNG) website to collect and publicize the American work of Ben Van Dorn Fisher (Book - The Runkle Family, 1899) and June Runkle Grove (Book - The Runkle Family of York County, Pennsylvania, 1999). Since then, this ONS has been expanded to become a worldwide study even though the present majority of the data focuses on America. This study is considered medium in size compared to other surnames, with over 67,000 individuals so far.

Runkel is a common variant registered with the Guild of One-Name Studies. Other variants that may be encountered include: Rounkles, Runckel, Runckle, Runk, and Runkles.

The names Runkel, Runckel, Runkle, and Runcle may possibly be derived from the Latin word runca, a weed, and cella, a dwelling-place. If so, then Runkel would be a place covered with weeds; Runkelstein, which is the name of a famous old castle in Tyrol, would be a rocky place covered with weeds; and Roncesvaux (French) or Roncescalles (Spanish), valleys of weeds or brambles. However, more probably, Runkel is of Teutonic origin. Runkelrube is a beet with Runkel referring to its firmness or solid character; Runke is a solid piece of bread; Runken refers to any solid piece, particularly bread; and Runks, a coarse solid piece of bread. Applied thus to the castle in Hesse conveys the idea of firmness, solidity, and strength. [ref. The Runkle Family, Ben Van Dorn Fisher, 1899., pp. 12-13]

The name dates back to at least 1050, where Runkel land was referred to in the Westerwald, a part of Rhenish Prussia. The 1899 book, The Runkle Family, provides a history of the Runkel family associated with that area.

See The Runkle Project TNG Website. Link is below.

The Runkle DNA Project is hosted by FamilyTree DNA. See the link below.

The Runkle Project TNG Website The Runkle DNA Project