The Gangtes, like the rest of their brethren (Chin-Kuki-Mizo) traced their origin from Khul, which means ‘Cave’; this cave is believed to be in present-day China.

Folktales and folk-songs describes places such as Shan, Raken (known as Arakan in Myanmar) etc. which are located in present-day Myanmar.

Washed up and over by myriads of interpretations and takes, the genesis of the Gangtes is almost like a well-kept secret bedimmed by theories of grandeur or otherwise; as is wont to any tribal history wanting in documentation, the Gangtes have their chronicle etched in folklores and traditional oral transmissions and legends.

There are two theories regarding the origin of Gangte.

Firstly, the name Gangte derived from a place called “Ganggam” and all the inhabitants were called Gang-te, meaning “from Gang” or “people of(from) Ganggam or Gangland”.

Secondly, Gangte is believed to be the name of the ancestor of the Gangte.

According to one folktale, Gangte progenitor wandered through the forest with his dog and finally build a village, he had three sons namely Mangte, Mate and Tukgek. Tukgek had a son named Thanglun, who in turn had 10 (ten) sons; these three sons of the progenitor viz Mangte, Mate and Tukgek along with their sons are the clans and sub-clans of present-day Gangte.

At present days, most of Mangte and Mate people don’t speak Gangte as they are mingling up with other tribes or communities while most of the descendants of Tukgek speak Gangte, preserve the custom and culture.

Though the term Gangte is much wider than thouht, people mistakenly refer it to descendants of Tukgek such as Thanglun, Teklah, Neihsiel, Thangjom and their sub-clans.