Origins of Cheney Surname

[Katharine R. Cheney]

I am Katharine Cheney, daughter of Robert Byron Cheney the son of Ray Eugene Cheney, a son of Byron Eugene Cheney, son of Paschal Cheney.<br>I would like to find out the origins of the surname Cheney. I have heard that the name originates from a French name ("shi-ney"?) which came to England (as "Chee-knee" and/or "Chee-nay").<br>However, I have also been told that the name may have come from eastern Europs, possibly Poland and that the original beginning sound was more like a "tsee" or "tzee".<br>Further, there are some indications that certain Cheneys may have intermarried with Native Americans.<br>In addition, I would like to identify (documentable) relatives from the Cheney family tree.
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krcheney@mciworld.com

[Brian Wynn]

Katharine, had your people not come from Ireland, you could probably rely on the reference which states that Cheney, like Chesnay, is an ancient surname from East Anglia, Herts, Hunts and Leics in England. Believed to be ultimately of Old French origin, after localities orplaces in France called Chenay, Chenoy, Chesnoy or Quesnay.<p>The Irish background introduces the additional possibility of the name being an angliced form of the Irish surnames Mac Seagháin or Mac Seáin, meaning 'son of Jean' (the Norman-French form of John). These names were otherwise anglicised M'Sheain, M'Sheane, M'Shaine, M'Shaen, MacShane, MacShan, MacCheyne, Shane, Cheyne and Johnson. The MacShanes of Tyrone are a branch of the O'Neills.
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brianfw@ozemail.com.au

[John McDonald]

: I am Katharine Cheney, daughter of Robert Byron Cheney the son of Ray Eugene Cheney, a son of Byron Eugene Cheney, son of Paschal Cheney.<br>: I would like to find out the origins of the surname Cheney. I have heard that the name originates from a French name ("shi-ney"?) which came to England (as "Chee-knee" and/or "Chee-nay").<br>: However, I have also been told that the name may have come from eastern Europs, possibly Poland and that the original beginning sound was more like a "tsee" or "tzee".<br>: Further, there are some indications that certain Cheneys may have intermarried with Native Americans.<br>: In addition, I would like to identify (documentable) relatives from the Cheney family tree.<p>Hi Katherine,<br> My wife's family name is Chenier and when we traced back her family to the early 1600's in Canada we found many variations to the name. The first to come to Canada was born in a village called Yffiniac, the township of Langueux,Saint Brieuc,Brittany,France.<br>The variations of the name spelling are Chesnay,Chenay,Chene,Chaine,Chainay,Chenez,Chaisne and written on the dependancy of whoever the writer was.<br>Research has shown that the Chesnay line in Canada originated from the family of Bertrand Chesnay through one son and it is possible, but not confirmed that another son originated the line in the U.S. when his family was evicted from Acadia.<br>If you require anymore information please contact me directly, I hope this will be a help to you.<br> Regards, John<br>

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jpmcdonald@sprint.ca