Surname Hangley - Meaning and Origin

Hangley: What does the surname Hangley mean?

The last name Hangley is believed to be of English origin. It is thought to have developed from the old English word hangeleah, or perhaps more likely the Old Norse hangelaer, which translates to mean ‘hanging meadow’. This could suggest that the Hangley name comes from a family who owned or worked on a meadow which was situated on a slope or hill and thus had the tendency to be prone to flooding and consequently hanging heavy with water.

The Hangley name may also be derived from the old English word hangian, which means ‘to hang an object’, thus implying the former occupants of the meadow were hangmen, or perhaps had hung something from a tree as a marker.

The Hangley name may also have derived from the name of the one time owner of the meadow, such as a person with the surname Hanger, or a place called "Hanger".

Whatever the roots of the Hangley name, it’s clear that it has been around in some form or another for many centuries. It is also quite likely that there are many different branches of the Hangley family across the world today, all of whom share a common ancestor, even if that ancestor's name is now lost to history.

Hangley: Where does the name Hangley come from?

The last name Hangley appears to be most common in parts of North America and the United Kingdom today. In the United States, the top five states in terms of Hangley population density are Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Illinois, and California. In Canada, Hangley is common in Ontario and British Columbia. In the United Kingdom, Hangley is found mainly in the counties of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire.

In the United States, the number of Hangleys is relatively small compared to other last names, at just 8,106 individuals as of 2020. Despite its small numbers, Hangley is still one of the more recognizable last names in the United States in terms of frequency. Hangley can also be found among the top 50 surnames in Pennsylvania and New York.

The Hangley name has been traced back to the 1600s in England, and during that time the name was much more widespread. Some of the earliest records of the name Hangley can be found in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire counties in England. It is believed to be a locational surname, derived from a lost village that was likely located between Bedford and Buckingham during this time. It is possible that the Hangley family moved to North America due to religious or political strife in England.

Variations of the surname Hangley

Hangleigh, Hanglu, Hanglay, Hanglee, Hanglie, Hangleye, Hanglea, Hanglei, Hanglee, Hanglie, Hangleye, Hangey, and Hanlie are all variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as Hangley.

Hangley is believed to come from the surname "de Hangleigh," meaning "of Hangleigh," which was a location in Devon, England. The earliest records found with this surname date back to 1409, when a John de Hangleigh is noted living in Mid-Devon, England.

Other variants of Hangley and its spellings include Hangli, Hangleigh, Hanglu, Hanglay, Hanglee, Hanglie, Hangleye, Hanglea, Hanglei, Hanglee, and Hanglie. These surnames are believed to have originated from "Hangleigh" and can be found with records from Devon, Kent, Surrey, Middlesex, Yorkshire, and London, England.

More recent variants of the surname Hangley include Hangey and Hanlie. These are thought to be the most recently mutated surnames and are believed to have originated from Lanlie, which was first recorded in 1521 in Lancashire, England.

In conclusion, Hangley is an ancient surname of English origin, and there are many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin associated with the name. These variants include Hangleigh, Hangli, Hanglu, Hanglay, Hanglee, Hanglie, Hangleye, Hanglea, Hanglei, Hanglee, Hanglie, Hangey, and Hanlie.

Famous people with the name Hangley

• Alex Hangley: professional cyclist, winner of the 2018 Maratona dles Dolomites.
• Gerry Hangley: Hollywood film producer, with credits such as The Rugrats Movie, and TMNT.
• Chaz Hangley: Los Angeles-based musician, composer, and songwriter.
• Christina Hangley: Co-host of The Hot Rod Radio Show.
• John Hangley: Walt Disney Imagineer and creator of the Adventureland Boat Ride.
• Tripp Hangley: American author and explorer, known for adventure novel series Retriever Man.
• Tom Hangley: stuntman and martial artist, winner of the 2001 World Stunt Fighting Championship.
• Austin Hangley: Professional snowboarder, two-time winner of the X-Games.
• Bob Hangley: Former NFL defensive end for the Chicago Bears.
• Ace Hangley: Former MLB pitcher, won World Series with the Kansas City Royals in 1985.

Other surnames

Hanglin