Find out how popular the last name Kanagy is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Kanagy.

Kanagy, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Kanagy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kanagy in America

Kanagy is the 19885th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kanagy surname appeared 1,351 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kanagy.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kanagy to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Kanagy

The surname Kanagy is thought to have originated in the German region of Bavaria during the late 15th century. It is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "kanege" or "kaneke," which means a small jug or container. This name likely referred to an occupation related to the production or sale of these vessels.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kanagy can be found in a document from the town of Nuremberg, dated 1492, which mentions a "Hans Kanegey." This suggests that variations of the name were already in use by that time.

In the 16th century, many German-speaking families began migrating to the United States, particularly to the state of Pennsylvania, which had been established as a haven for religious minorities. Among these immigrants were those bearing the surname Kanagy, who settled in the fertile farmlands of Lancaster County.

The first known Kanagy in America was Hans Kanagy, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1737 from the Palatinate region of Germany. He and his family established a homestead in what is now Rapho Township, Lancaster County, and the name became well-established in that area.

Over the centuries, the Kanagy surname has undergone various spellings, including Kanegy, Kanagi, and Kahnagee, reflecting the influence of local dialects and regional variations in pronunciation.

Notable individuals with the Kanagy surname include:

1. Jacob Kanagy (1760-1848), a farmer and miller in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, who served as a captain in the American Revolutionary War.
2. Samuel Kanagy (1785-1868), a Mennonite minister and farmer in Ohio, known for his leadership in the church community.
3. Elam Kanagy (1820-1901), a prominent businessman and landowner in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, who founded the town of Kanagy, later renamed New Stanton.
4. Joseph Kanagy (1839-1918), a Union Army veteran and teacher in Ohio, who served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives.
5. Abner Kanagy (1871-1949), an inventor and engineer from Pennsylvania, who held several patents for agricultural machinery and equipment.

While the Kanagy name may have originated from a humble occupation, it has become deeply rooted in various regions of the United States, particularly in areas with a strong Mennonite and German-American heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kanagy

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Kanagy.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kanagy was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Kanagy has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Kanagy was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kanagy, please contact us.

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