Need help on surname origin for Gangai

[ckono]

Hi there, doing genealogy research in Bari and I have a family surname Gangai. I can't seem to find any sort of origin info on the surname or a meaning for it. It doesn't sound like a typical italian surname to me, so I am very perplexed. Also perplexed to see it is a common surname in India. Any info on this family name would be much appreciated!

[Tessa78]

Where did you see this named written?
Can you post an image?

T.

[TerraLavoro]

I don't know about the origin of the surname, but I can tell you that there are more than 100 listings in the Puglia region of individuals with that last name.

I guess it is reasonable to assume that it is not very rare.

[Tessa78]

And at least ONE in the Italian Phone Book (landlines) in Bari

http://www.paginebianche.it/ricerca?qs=gangai&dv=bari

T.

[ckono]

Hi all, thanks for the replies! Yes, the surname doesn't appear to be SUPER rare, but I still would like to get to the bottom of it's origin/meaning if possible. The family I am researching with the surname is from Bisceglie in Bari. Any hints about where I could search would be great.

[erudita74]

I found the following:

E' piuttosto criptico anche il poco diffuso Gango, da cui anche Gangoni, Ganghini, Ganghino, Gangai, originato probabilmente dal gotico wango, "mascella"; hanno quindi significato identico a quello di cognomi come Mascella, Mascelloni, Mascellani, diffusi fra Emilia e Toscana, legati a soprannomi che indicavano una mascella particolarmente grossa o storta.

It's rather crytic, also not very widespread Gango, from which also (derived) Gangoni, Ganghini, Ganghino, Gangai- probably originated from the Gothic wango, jaw; therefore (these surnames) have the same meaning as surnames such as Mascella, Mascelloni, Mascellani, (which are) common between Emilia and Tuscany (and) tied to nicknames that indicate a particularly large or crooked jaw.

Erudita

[ckono]

I found the following:

E' piuttosto criptico anche il poco diffuso Gango, da cui anche Gangoni, Ganghini, Ganghino, Gangai, originato probabilmente dal gotico wango, "mascella"; hanno quindi significato identico a quello di cognomi come Mascella, Mascelloni, Mascellani, diffusi fra Emilia e Toscana, legati a soprannomi che indicavano una mascella particolarmente grossa o storta.

It's rather crytic, also not very widespread Gango, from which also (derived) Gangoni, Ganghini, Ganghino, Gangai- probably originated from the Gothic wango, jaw; therefore (these surnames) have the same meaning as surnames such as Mascella, Mascelloni, Mascellani, (which are) common between Emilia and Tuscany (and) tied to nicknames that indicate a particularly large or crooked jaw.

Erudita

Thank you SO SO much, Erudita! Exactly what I was hoping to find!

[erudita74]

You're very welcome.
Erudita