Surname Kangley - Meaning and Origin
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Kangley: What does the surname Kangley mean?
The last name Kangley is derived from the Old English words cyne, meaning king, and lēah, which means wood or clearing. Historically, it was most likely a topographic name for someone living in or near a wood belonging to a king.
The Kangley surname first appeared in old records in the 13th century in Nottinghamshire, England. It is believed to be a branch of a larger Anglo-Saxon family tree, and various references suggest that the family could have been of noble birth at the time.
Kangley is one of the many Anglo-Saxon surnames with variations such as Kangle, Kangel, and Kanell. These different spellings suggest that the surname was only changed slightly through the centuries, most likely by oral tradition.
Kangley families first moved to the United States around the late 19th century, with the largest clusters of family members being found in Ohio, Michigan, and New York. More recently, people with the Kangley name have migrated to places like California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.
Those bearing the Kangley name today can take pride in their rich family history and connection to the Anglo-Saxon culture. A successful ancestor may likely have been behind your family's success, so the Kangley name will be remembered for generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisKangley: Where does the name Kangley come from?
The last name Kangley is most commonly found in Australia today, predominantly in the state of New South Wales. According to Ancestry, the Kangley surname is the 245,127th most commonly used surname in the country and is 4,431,865th overall.
Data indicates that most Kangley’s in Australia can trace their ancestry back to the south-west of England. In particular, census data collected throughout Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset are home to the highest concentration of Kangley’s in the United Kingdom today.
Kangley is believed to be an occupational last name derived from the Medieval practice of keeping ‘Keen Hounds’ (Keen Houndsmen) for hunting. The word ‘Keeling’ was the Old English word for 'chasing', and was often employed to describe a ‘hound keeper or chaser’. It is likely that the surname Kangley is a regionalized version of the term.
Today, Kangley’s are a widespread family in the All-England region and are found in various other countries globally. In the United States, the surname Kangley is predominately concentrated on the American East Coast and parts of the Midwest, areas steeped in colonial-era heritage. In Canada the surname is primarily found in Alberta and in smaller numbers throughout its western provinces.
The Kangley family name has certainly changed, with different versions of the name being recorded including Kenleigh, Kenly, Kinkley and Kenley, and its ancestral roots remain uncertain. Despite this, the Kangley surname continues to be a popular one today, especially in Australia.
Variations of the surname Kangley
The Kangley surname has many variants, spellings, and related surnames all originating from the same geographic area. The primary spelling of Kangley is also seen as Kangly, Cangley, Canglie, and Kangle. Other related variants or spellings include Cangle, Cangley, Kangle, Canglea, Kanglea and Kangleie.
Surnames of the same origin are also found in many forms. Variations such as Cangalay, Cangalai, Cangalia, and Chenleigh are often seen, although not as commonly as the Kangley spelling. Other related surnames include, Kunkle, Kangle, Gangle, Cunkle, Kongel, and Kungel.
The primary Kohanim (an ancient Jewish lineage) with the Kangley surname can be traced to the 10th century. The name is believed to have originated from Ireland and the United Kingdom and can be linked to the Breton language, which was widely spoken in northern France and the British Isles. Historically, Kangleys are believed to be of Saxon/Welsh descent and likely settled in the British Isles during the Middle Ages.
Due to immigration and migrations to America, many Kangleys have moved throughout the world to places such as Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Israel. Today, there are Kangleys living all over the world, making it difficult to trace the exact origin.
Famous people with the name Kangley
- Andrew Kangley: American actor best known for his role in the TV series “Monk”.
- Jessica Kangley: American actress who appeared in the television series “Law & Order”.
- Phil Kangley: Professional tennis player who played in the 1971 US Open.
- Adam Kangley: American musician and songwriter known for his work with the band Daylight.
- Jack Kangley: Professional golfer who won two tournaments on the PGA tour.
- Mark Kangley: American basketball player who played for the Boston Celtics in the NBA.
- Dave Kangley: British actor best known for his roles in the films “Final Destination” and “The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue”.
- Ian Kangley: British musician, composer, and producer known for his work on the bands The Prodigy and Orbital.
- Guy Kangley: British explorer, mountaineer, and author known for his work in South America.
- William Kangley: American soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Korean War.