Explore the Family Name Kanagy
The meaning of Kanagy
Americanized form of Swiss German Gnägi or Gnaegi, a nickname for a thin person (see Gnagey). Compare Kanaga, Kenaga, and Kenagy. History: This is one of the variants of the name of a Swiss Mennonite (Amish) family, originally spelled Gnägi or Gnaegi, but among the American Mennonites most commonly Kanagy and Kenagy. Other established American forms of the name are Gnaegy, Gnage, Gnagey, Gnagi, Gnagy, Kanaga, Kenaga, and Keneagy.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Kanagy in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Kanagy has shown an increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Kanagy was ranked as the 24,807th most popular surname, but by 2010, its rank had increased to 19,885, a notable improvement of nearly 20%. The number of people with this surname also rose during this time frame from 942 to 1,351, representing a significant growth of approximately 43%. This shift is reflected in the proportion per 100k which increased by 31.43%, showcasing the growing prevalence of the Kanagy name.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #24,807 | #19,885 | 19.84% |
| Count | 942 | 1,351 | 43.42% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.35 | 0.46 | 31.43% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Kanagy
The ethnicity distribution for the Kanagy surname, according to the Decennial U.S. Census, shows that the majority of individuals with this surname identify as White, though there was a small decline of -1.3% between 2000 and 2010. Meanwhile, those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic saw an increase in their proportions, with growth rates of 9.46% and 20.27%, respectively. Interestingly, individuals reporting two or more ethnic identities showed a remarkable increase of 82.35% over the decade, indicating a rise in multi-ethnic identity among those bearing the Kanagy surname. Notably, there were no recorded instances of individuals with this surname identifying as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native during these years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.35% | 96.08% | -1.3% |
| Two or More Races | 0.85% | 1.55% | 82.35% |
| Hispanic | 0.74% | 0.89% | 20.27% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.74% | 0.81% | 9.46% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |