Surname Cheaney - Meaning and Origin
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Cheaney: What does the surname Cheaney mean?
The surname Cheaney is an occupational surname which is derived from an Old French word of uncertain origin and which is likely related to the French word “chener”, which literally translates to “to become”.
It is believed to have originally been the name of someone who made or sold cheese, and this was a common occupation in the Middle Ages. The name may also be derived from the Middle English word ‘cheyne’, which is also related to cheese, and is thought to be of ancient Celtic origin.
The surname may also be a variation of the more popular British surname ‘Cheney’, that is from a place in the English county of Cheshire. ‘Cheney’ itself has Saxon roots and means ‘fenced enclosure’.
Today the surname Cheaney is quite rare, but it can still be found throughout England. It is also common in the United States, mostly as a result of immigration, with the earliest known record of the surname here dating back to the mid 1800s.
Overall, the last name Cheaney offers insight into the rich history of the surname and its evolution over the centuries, as it has taken on many different meanings and origins.
Order DNA origin analysisCheaney: Where does the name Cheaney come from?
The last name Cheaney is thought to have originated with a family from England, or possibly Scotland. It is a name commonly found in the United States today, and is particularly common in the Southern states, including Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee. Members of the Cheaney family are also found in other parts of the country, such as California, Colorado, and Kentucky.
The Cheaney family has had a presence in the United States since the 1800s, and there are records of Cheaney families living in various locations in the country prior to that as well. Early records of the name date back to when members of the family were indentured servants arriving from England and Scotland to the American colonies in the 17th century.
Today, the Cheaney family continues to thrive, with many descendants of the initial families living in the South, and all over the United States. Interestingly, there are also records of the Cheaney family living in Canada, suggesting that there was migration between countries for members of the Cheaney family in the past.
Variations of the surname Cheaney
The surname Cheaney is an uncommon name which is believed to be a variant of the name Cheney or Cheyney. It is believed to have originated in England, but it is uncertain if the two surnames both share the same origins.
Sometimes, the name is also spelled as 'Cheeney'. Alternatively, variants of this name are also 'Cheannie', 'Cheany', 'Cheaney', 'Cheney', 'Chenney' and 'Cheynie'.
In some cases, the pronunciation of the last name is also 'Chaney', which is due to the influence of Irish surnames. This is likely due to the influence of early Irish settlers in America, and the fact that Cheaney is often found among Irish families.
In addition to Cheaney, Cheney is another name of similar origins. It is believed to be derived from an Old French word meaning 'cheese-seller' or 'a man who sold cheese' and is often used to describe someone who originally sold cheese. This suggests that the origin of both names is medieval England.
Other names which are said to be of the same origin and have a similar spelling include 'Cheyney', 'Cheni', 'Cheyni', 'Chene', 'Cheney' and 'Chinay'.In some cases, the variant can be traced back to the surname 'Chen' which originated in East Asia.
In conclusion, the name Cheaney is believed to have originated in England, and it is uncertain whether it shares the same origin as its variant names and spellings. The variants listed above are the most common associated spellings for this surname.
Famous people with the name Cheaney
- Benjamin Cheaney: a Canadian professional ice hockey player.
- Jordan Cheaney: a Motorcross competitor and former X Games medalist.
- Lolita Cheaney: an American actress best known for her role in the movie Mean Girls.
- Mike Cheaney: an American football player who is currently a free agent.
- Sam Cheaney: an English actor and voiceover artist.
- Rhyan Cheaney: an American basketball player and former member of the Connecticut Huskies.
- Marques Cheaney: an American professional football player and former member of the Cleveland Browns.
- Trevor Cheaney: an American football player and former member of the Tennessee Titans.
- Bruce Cheaney: an American writer, producer, and director who has worked on shows like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and The Office.
- George Cheaney: an American entrepreneur and founder of the online shopping site Cheaney Brothers.