Surname Chevey - Meaning and Origin

Chevey: What does the surname Chevey mean?

The last name Chevey is French in origin and is believed to have derived from the Old French word “chevai” meaning “labourer with a horse” or perhaps as a descriptive nickname for someone who was seen as having the ability and intelligence of a horse. The name is common in France, most especially in Normandy and Burgundy.

In England, Chevey was primarily found in counties Devon, Cornwall, and Somerset. Early recordings include a William Chevey, which was recorded in the documents known as the Hundred Rolls of 1273 in the county of Oxford, and John Cheavey, who was recorded in county Devon in 1327. Johannes Shevay was recorded in Germany in 1455 in the city of Lorenzkirch.

The earliest known person with the surname Chevey was Dame Florine Cheveys recorded in Baden, Germany in 1428.

Today, Chevey is still found in many countries around the world especially across Europe due to its popularity. The name has kept with the French roots when it comes to pronunciation, with variations such as Chevay, Chivey, Shevay, and Shevey. The modern spelling, however, has been influenced by many languages making its pronunciation less distinct and driven from the French language.

Chevey: Where does the name Chevey come from?

Today, the surname Chevey is most commonly associated with the small village of Chévèche in France, which is located within the Moulins department, part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The Chevey name is believed to have originated from this village, and records show the surname to have been present in this commune since the early seventeenth century, though other records of the Chevey family had been established further back in the Middle Ages.

The Chevey surname can also be found in other parts of France, though not in significant numbers. Populations with the name are rare in other parts of Europe and the United States. However, there are records of Cheveys who had made their way to the UK during the 19th century, with some of them settling in North America and other parts of the world.

According to the recent U.S. census information, the Chevey surname is most commonly found in California, which has the most population with the name in the United States. The Chevey name is known to be spread across different countries and regions around the world.

Today, the Chevey family is geographically dispersed with few members living near Chévèche. Despite this, the name still has strong roots within the small French village, carrying with it a history of the French countryside and a link to past generations that continues to be reflected in its use today.

Variations of the surname Chevey

The surname Chevey is a derivative of the French surname Chevé, an originally aristocratic name of the later Middle Ages. It is believed that this surname originates from the French word 'cheval' which means 'horse'. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin that share the same root include Cheval, Chevalier, Cheveau, Chevaux, Cheve, Chevaler, Chevée, Chever, Cheves, Chevier, Chevis, Chevrin, Chevesley, Cheviero, Chevar, Chevalard, Chevalle, Chevalet, Chevigny and Chevilley.

In addition, variations that have evolved over time include Cave, Chave, Chevette, Chevalley, Chevry, Chevin, Chevallier, Chavard, Chavee, Chavigny, Chavy, Chaville and Chavelier. These variations are frequently found in French documents from the 17th century onwards and can often be found today in areas of Europe with a historical French presence.

In the United States, the spelling Chevey has been known to exist regionally and is also found in Canada, often among immigrants of French descent. It is likely that these American variants have been introduced due to the etymology of the surname, as the English language often changes or simplifies foreign words and surnames to better suit the sound of the language.

Overall, the surname Chevey has many variants, spellings and derivations that share the same French origin. Through migration, this surname has traveled beyond France's borders and is now present in multiple languages and regions across the world.

Famous people with the name Chevey

• Anton Chekhov: Russian playwright, author, and short-story writer, known as a master of dramatic structure, characterization, and atmosphere.
• Geoffrey Chevalier: French author of numerous works of fiction and non-fiction, famous for his novels about the modern world.
• Lauren Cheyney: American professional surfer who competed in 11 ASP world tour events.
• John Chevey: American actor and comedian who starred in films such as Top Secret! (1984), Fletch (1985), and The Money Pit (1986).
• John Cheviak: American composer and orchestrator who works in film, television, commercial music, and video game music.
• Natalia Cheyenne: Russian-American actress, singer, and model, best known for her roles in Sisterhood (2014) and After Hours (2015).
• Adolfo Chevey: Chilean politician who served as senator from 1941 to 1948 and as Minister of Education from 1904 to 1908.
• Alexander Cheyney: Russian-American builder and real estate developer who built hundreds of homes, commercial buildings, and churches in California during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• John Chevey III: American author of novels such as The Unhallowed (2015) and The Maker’s Eye (2016).
• Andrey Chevey: Russian-American musician, producer, and audio engineer who served as co-producer and engineer of Eminem’s Recovery (2010) and Relapse (2009).

Other surnames

CheversCheves