Dear Tracy, I can't see how this name could possibly be related to our own. Kunkel, as you probably know, is an archaic term for "womankind." This probably came from its original meaning of "distaff," which also means "womankind" in English, but also refers to part of a spinning wheel. I expect you already know about the Kunkel, etc. newsletter named "Spindle," after that part of the spinning wheel. Dunkle, on the otherhand, looks like what I would consider a misspelling, or Americanization, of the German word dunkel, which means dark. The etymologys of the two words just look way too far apart to have been of the same origin. The sound of the two words also have no real similarity. I suspect you are thinking of the spelling of Gunkel. In English, this spelling appears to be about as far (close) to the primary spelling of the name, Kunkel, as the name Dunkel. In English, there is about as big a difference in the pronunciation of the g, as there is of d. In German, however, the two letters g and k are very close, while d is not. I hope you're not disappointed, but I can't see any way the two could possibly be "related." Where does your family come from? My own is based in southern Illinois. Lately, it has been spreading out to Kentucky, as well as Missouri and Indiana. The first "Native American" was born in Clinton, OH, then was moved to southern Illinois by the time he was three. Well, best of luck in looking for your roots. Sincerely, Ron Kunkel