Surname Cheyne - Meaning and Origin
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Cheyne: What does the surname Cheyne mean?
The last name Cheyne (or Chayne) is an old French and medieval name. It comes from the French word "chein" which means 'little dog'. It is likely derived from an old French nickname for a small, beloved dog, and was likely originally given to someone who was fond of their pet.
The surname is likely from the Normandy region of France, and was popularized in Scotland before becoming widespread in England. It is unclear when and where the name first appeared, but it is listed in the rolls of England in the 13th century.
In England, it is most commonly found in the Scottish Borders and Northumberland, as well as in Northamptonshire and East Anglia.
Throughout history, the Cheyne name has been associated with Scottish nobles, and the surname has been held by many notable people, including several barons and MPs. Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, the Cheyne name was common in Scotland and extended to the New World with the first settlers in Virginia in 1608.
The Cheyne name has persisted thought centuries, and can still be found today, primarily in Scotland, England, Ireland, and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisCheyne: Where does the name Cheyne come from?
The surname Cheyne is most commonly found in Scotland today, where it has been traced back to the 11th century in Aberdeenshire. Cheyne is derived from the Old French word ‘cain’, meaning ‘land, goods’ or ‘estate’, and first established residence in Scotland when people from northern France settled in northeast Scotland.
In Scotland, the Cheyne name has been found in different variants such as MacChein, MacCain, and Kean. In the past, the cheyne name was also found throughout Europe and parts of the UK, and was less common in England and Wales, although some families have managed to keep it alive throughout the years.
Currently, the Cheyne name is mostly concentrated in Scotland, and particularly in some of its historic strongholds such as the towns of Rosehearty Fyvie, Cluny, and North and South Slains. However, in modern times, in the words of the Cheyne family motto, ‘Erectus et Fidelis’, people with the surname have begun to broaden their horizons, allowing the name to spread further across the globe.
The Cheyne name is particularly popular among the Scottish and Canadian diaspora, and is additionally common in other English-speaking countries such as the United States and Australia.
Variations of the surname Cheyne
The surname Cheyne has multiple variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most commonly used variants include Cheyne, Cheine, Chainey and Chainey. The variants are typically a phonetic variation or an alternate spelling of the same surname.
The Cheyne surname has roots in Scotland and is derived from the French word "chein" (meaning "dog") or from an Old French form of the Celtic name Cainneach or Ceinneich. It is also possible that the surname was derived from the place name Cheyne, which is located in Scotland near the town of Kincardine.
The other surnames of similar origin include Chain, Chayne, Chainey, Cheany, Cheyne, Cheyney, Cheyneye, Chine, Chinie, Chinney, Chinny, Chiny, Chynney and Cheynie. These variations may be found in the records of Scotland, England, Ireland, and the United States.
The variants of the surname may also be seen in different spellings across various countries and cultures throughout the world. Cheine, Chainey, and Chayne are the most commonly seen spellings in the United States, while Chain, Cheany, and Cheyne appear in the records of Scotland and Ireland. The variation in spellings is largely due to the literature of different countries and time periods, as well as regional and family aspects.
In some cases, the surname may have been Anglicized or translated from Gaelic, which may result in multiple variations of the same surname. Many of these variations are commonly seen in Scotland, England and Ireland.
Famous people with the name Cheyne
- Bruce Cheyne: Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Bill Cheyne: English professional footballer
- Jamie Cheyne: singer-songwriter from Scotland
- Gary Cheyne: Scottish publisher and author
- Edith Cheyne: Canadian actress
- Christina Cheyne: Canadian musician
- William Rainey Cheyne: English evangelical theologian
- David Cheyne: New Zealand judo and rugby coach
- Edward Cheyne: British Army Officer and Baronet
- John Cheyne: British physician and student of Thomas Sydenham