Frequency: (236)
(number of times this surname appears in a sample database of 88.7 million names, representing one third of the 1997 US population)
1. English (of Norman origin): of uncertain derivation. It may be a habitational name, perhaps from a place called Ganges in southern France. This is recorded in the 12th century as Agange and Aganthicum, perhaps from a derivative of Latin acanthus ‘bear's-foot’. On the other hand, it may be from the Old Norse personal name Gangi, a cognate of Old English Gegn.
2. German (Gänge): from Middle High German genge ‘common’, ‘circulating (among the people)’, ‘sprightly’, hence an occupational name for a hawker or peddler; perhaps also a nickname for an energetic person (see Genge 2).
3. German (Gange or Gänge): from a short form of the personal names Wolfgang or Gangulf, both formed with Old High German gang- ‘gait’, ‘walk’ (+ wolf ‘wolf’).
GIVEN NAMES: Italian 5%. Angelo, Carmino, Salvatore, Vito.
See the Key to the Dictionary or consult the General Introduction for further explanation.
