Cheney, originally de Cheney, is a

toponymic surname A toponymic surname or topographic surname is a surname derived from a place name.

Old French Old French (, , ; Modern French: ) was the language spoken in most of the northern half of France from approximately the 8th to the 14th centuries. Rather than a unified language, Old French was a linkage of Romance dialects, mutually intelligib ...

origin, introduced into

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

by the

Normans The Normans (Norman language, Norman: ''Normaunds''; french: Normands; la, Nortmanni/Normanni) were a population arising in the medieval Duchy of Normandy from the intermingling between Norsemen, Norse Viking settlers and indigenous West Fran ...

. The derivation is from the

''chesne'' (modern French: ''chêne'') "oak tree" with the Old French suffix ''-ei / -ai'' meaning "collection of rees, so ''chenei'' "oak grove", from Medieval Latin . The surname may be either locational or topographical in origin. As a locational name, Cheney may derive from any of the places named with the Old French , nowadays

Chesney Chesney is an English surname or given name and a French surname It is derived from Old French ''chesnai'' ("oak grove").Chesnay,

le Chesnay Le Chesnay () is a former commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. On 1 January 2019, it was merged into the new commune Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris, from ...

la Chesnaye La Chesnaye is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Nicolas Filleul de La Chesnaye (1530–1575?), French poet and dramatist * Charles Aubert de La Chesnaye Charles Aubert de La Chesnaye (12 February 1632 - 20 September 1702) w ...

, etc. As a topographical name, Cheney denoted residence near a conspicuous oak tree, or in an oak forest. The surname is now found widespread in Scotland, where the first known bearer of the name is William de Chesne, who witnessed a charter in 1200. The development of the name includes the following examples and may refer to: *

Alfred Cheney Johnston Alfred Cheney Johnston (known as "Cheney" to his friends and associates) (April 8, 1885 – April 17, 1971) was a New York City-based photographer known for his portraits of ''Ziegfeld Follies'' showgirls as well as of actors and actresses f ...

(1885–1971), American photographer known for his portraits of Ziegfeld Follies showgirls *

Amy Marcy Cheney Beach Amy Marcy Cheney Beach (September 5, 1867December 27, 1944) was an American composer and pianist. She was the first successful American female composer of large-scale art music. Her "Gaelic" Symphony, premiered by the Boston Symphony Orchestra i ...

(1867–1944), first American female composer of large-scale art music * Arthur Cheney Train (1875–1945), American lawyer and writer of legal thrillers * Ben Cheney (1905–1971), lumber businessman * Benjamin Pierce Cheney (1815–1895), American businessman *

Brainard Cheney Brainard Cheney (June 3, 1900 – January 15, 1990) was an American novelist, playwright, speechwriter and essayist from Georgia who was associated with the Southern Agrarians literary movement Cheney's writing career covered four decades. He pu ...

(1900–1990), Georgia novelist, playwright and essayist *

C. R. Cheney Christopher Robert Cheney (20 December 1906 – 19 June 1987) was a medieval historian, noted for his work on the medieval English church and the relations of the papacy with England, particularly in the age of Pope Innocent III. Life Chene ...

(1906–1987), medieval historian *

Charles E. Cheney Charles Edward Cheney (February 12, 1836 – November 15, 1916) was an American clergyman and second bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church. Life Charles E. Cheney was born in Canandaigua, New York on February 12, 1836. A graduate of Hobart ...

(1836–1916), Reformed Episcopal Church bishop from New York *

Chris Cheney Christopher John Cheney (born 2 January 1975) is an Australian rock musician, record producer, and studio owner. He is the founding mainstay guitarist, songwriter, and lead vocalist of the rockabilly band The Living End, which was formed in 1 ...

(born 1975), guitarist and lead singer of Australian rock band The Living End *

Colin Cheney Colin Cheney (born 1978 Boston, Massachusetts) is an American poet. His debut collection, ''Here Be Monsters'', was selected for the National Poetry Series in 2009. His work has appeared in many publications including ''American Poetry Review, Cr ...

(born 1978), American poet * David D. Cheney (1822–1904), Wisconsin State Assembly member *

David W. Cheney David Wilmot Cheney (April 7, 1859 – September 27, 1913) was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. Biography Cheney was born on April 7, 1859, in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. His father, David D. Cheney, was also a member of the Assembly. C ...

(1859–1913), Wisconsin State Assembly member *

Dick Cheney Richard Bruce Cheney ( ; born January 30, 1941) is an American politician and businessman who served as the 46th vice president of the United States from 2001 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. He is currently the oldest living former U ...

(born 1941), 46th Vice President of the United States and former United States Representative *

Dorothy Cheney Dorothy "Dodo" May Sutton Bundy Cheney (September 1, 1916 – November 23, 2014) was an American tennis player from her youth into her 90s. In 1938, Bundy was the first American to win the women's singles title at the Australian National Champi ...

(1916–2014), tennis player *

Dorothy Cheney (scientist) Dorothy Leavitt Cheney (August 24, 1950 – November 9, 2018) was an American scientist who studied the social behavior, communication, and cognition of wild primates in their natural habitat. She was Professor of Biology at the University of Pen ...

(1950–2018), American scientist who studied the wild primates in their natural habitat * Edith C. Cheney (1888–1953), New York assemblywoman 1940–1944 *

Ednah Dow Littlehale Cheney Ednah Dow Littlehale Cheney (June 27, 1824 – November 19, 1904) was an American writer, reformer, and philanthropist. She was born on Beacon Hill, Boston, Beacon Hill, Boston, June 27, 1824; and was educated in private schools in Boston. Cheney ...

(1824–1904), Boston writer, reformer and philanthropist *Captain

Edward Cheney Edward Hawkins Cheney Companion of the Order of the Bath, CB (1778–1848) was a 19th century British soldier and hero of the Battle of Waterloo. His unique claim to fame was that he had five separate horses killed or wounded under him durin ...

(1788-1846) led the Royal Scots Greys as temporary Brevet Colonel at the

Battle of Waterloo The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815, near Waterloo, Belgium, Waterloo (at that time in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, now in Belgium). A French army under the command of Napoleon was defeated by two of the armie ...

Edwin Cheney Edwin Henry Cheney (June 13, 1869 - December 18, 1942) was an American electrical engineer from Oak Park, Illinois, United States. Edwin was the son of James Wilson Cheney (b. August 20, 1841) and Armilla Armanda (b. ca. 1846), daughter of Linus ...

(1869–1942), commissioned the Frank Lloyd Wright ''Cheney House'' *

Elizabeth Cheney (gentry) Elizabeth Lynne Cheney (; born July 28, 1966) is an American attorney and politician who has been the U.S. representative for since 2017, with her term expiring in January 2023. She chaired the House Republican Conference, the third-highest ...

(1422–1473), English aristocrat *

Ellen Cheney Johnson Ellen Cheney Johnson (December 20, 1829 – June 28, 1899) was an American prison reformer. She founded the New England Women's Auxiliary Association to the United States Sanitary Commission, worked with homeless and vagrant women after the Civil ...

(1829–1899), American prison reformer * Elliott Ward Cheney Jr. (1929–2016), University of Texas mathematician and professor *

Emily Cheney Neville Emily Cheney Neville (December 28, 1919 – December 14, 1997) was an American author. She was born in Manchester, Connecticut and graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1940. She then worked for the '' New York Daily News'' and the ''New Yor ...

(1919–1997), author and Newbury Medal winner * Eric Cheney (1924–2001), English motorcycle racer, designer and independent constructor * Flora Cheney (1872–1929), Illinois state Representative * George Edward Cheney, American educator and internationally recognized leader in the area of organizational communication * Grahame Cheney (born 1969), Australian boxer * Guy W. Cheney (1886–1939), New York politician * Hampton J. Cheney (1836–1927), American politician * Harry Morrison Cheney (1860–1937), Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives *

Harriet Vaughan Cheney Harriet Vaughan Cheney (September 9, 1796 – May 14, 1889) was an American-Canadian novelist. She wrote a number of historical romances, among them ''A Peep at the Pilgrims in Sixteen Thirty-Six'' and ''The Rivals of Acadia'', as well as religiou ...

(1796–1889), American-Canadian novelist * Herbert Cheney (1873–1931), American college football coach and educator *

Horace B. Cheney Horace Bushnell Cheney (May 19, 1868 – August 15, 1938) was an American administrator, who was general manager and vice-president of Cheney Brothers Silk Manufacturing Company,Lester Robert Bittel, Muriel Albers Bittel (1978), ''Encyclopedia ...

(1868–1938), American administrator * Howard Lovewell Cheney (1889–1969), American architect and engineer, who designed Washington National Airport *

Howell Cheney Howell Cheney (January 1, 1870, Hartford, Connecticut – August 20, 1957) was a member of the Cheney silk manufacturing dynasty. The Cheneys had long been the first family of Manchester, Connecticut. Their mill buildings, workers residences and ...

(1870–1957), American silk manufacturer *

Ian Cheney Ian Cheney is an American documentary filmmaker, cinematographer, and producer. Early life and education Cheney grew up in Massachusetts and Maine, attended The Mountain School, a semester school for high school juniors, and graduated from Milt ...

, American film producer * Janice Wright Cheney, Canadian textile artist * John Cheney (disambiguation), several people *

Kimberly B. Cheney Kimberly B. Cheney (born November 25, 1935, in Manchester, CT) is an American lawyer and politician who served as Vermont's Attorney General from 1973 to 1975. Early life and career Kimberly B. Cheney is one of four sons born to Kimberly Chen ...

(born 1935), Vermont attorney general * Kyle Cheney (footballer) (born 1989), Australian rules football player * Kyle Cheney (journalist), journalist for

Politico ''Politico'' (stylized in all caps), known originally as ''The Politico'', is an American, German-owned political journalism newspaper company based in Arlington County, Virginia, that covers politics and policy in the United States and intern ...

Larry Cheney Laurance Russell Cheney (May 2, 1886 – January 6, 1969) was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs (1911–15), Brooklyn Robins (1915–19), Boston Braves (1919) and Philadelphia Phillies (1919). Cheney bat ...

(1886–1969), American baseball player *

Lauren Cheney Lauren may be a given name or surname.The name's meaning may be "laurel tree", "sweet of honor", or "wisdom". It is derived from the French name Laurence, a feminine version of Laurent, which is in turn derived from the Roman surname Laurentius. ...

(born 1987), American soccer player *

Liz Cheney Elizabeth Lynne Cheney (; born July 28, 1966) is an American attorney and politician who has been the U.S. representative for since 2017, with her term expiring in January 2023. She chaired the House Republican Conference, the third-highest p ...

(born 1966), United States Representative, daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney * Louis R. Cheney (1859–1944), Connecticut businessman and politician *

Lynne Cheney Lynne Ann Cheney ( ; ; born August 14, 1941) is an American author, scholar, and former talk show host. She is married to the 46th vice president of the United States, Dick Cheney, and served as the second lady of the United States from 2001 to ...

(born 1941), wife of United States Vice President Dick Cheney *

Margaret Cheney Margaret Cheney (born 1955) is an American mathematician whose research involves inverse problem An inverse problem in science is the process of calculating from a set of observations the causal factors that produced them: for example, calcula ...

(born 1955), American mathematician * Martha Cheney (born 1953), American author *

Mary Cheney Mary Claire Cheney (; born March 14, 1969) is the younger of the two daughters of Dick Cheney, the 46th vice president of the United States and 17th United States secretary of defense, and Lynne Cheney. She is involved with a number of political ...

(born 1969), daughter of United States Vice President Dick Cheney * Mary Moulton Cheney (1871–1957), artist and visual arts educator in Minneapolis * Mary Young Cheney Greeley (1811/1814–1872), wife of Horace Greeley * May L. Cheney (1862–1942), California educator and Appointment Secretary at University of California, Berkeley *

Moses Cheney Moses Cheney (January 31, 1793 – July 17, 1875) was an Abolitionism in the United States, abolitionist, printer and legislator from New Hampshire. Cheney was born in 1793 in Thornton, New Hampshire. Cheney entered the paper printing business ...

(1793–1875), abolitionist, printer and legislator from New Hampshire * Nelson W. Cheney (1875–1944), New York politician *

Oren Burbank Cheney Oren Burbank Cheney (December 10, 1816 – December 22, 1903) was an American politician, minister, and statesman who was a key figure in the abolitionist movement in the United States during the later 19th century. Along with textile tycoon Ben ...

(1816–1903), abolitionist, founder of Bates College and Maine state Representative * Person Colby Cheney (1828–1901), United States Senator, Governor of New Hampshire *

Peter Cheney Peter Cheney is a feature writer for the Canadian newspaper ''The Globe and Mail''. Cheney formerly wrote for the ''Toronto Star''. He is the winner of three National Newspaper Awards:

, Canadian newspaper writer * Ray Cheney, rugby union player and sportsman from Wales *

Richard Cheyney Richard Cheyney (1513 – 29 April 1579) was an English churchman, bishop of Gloucester from 1562. Opposed to Calvinism, he was an isolated and embattled bishop of the reign of Elizabeth, though able to keep his see. Life Born in London, accordin ...

(1513–1579), bishop of Gloucester from 1562, oppositor of the Calvinism * Richard Cheney (New Mexico politician), state representative (2003–2007) *

Rufus Cheney Jr. Rufus Cheney Jr. was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly during the 1850 session. He was a Whig Party (United States), Whig. References

Wisconsin Whigs 19th-century American politicians Year of birth missing Year of death missing {{ ...

, Wisconsin State Assembly member *

Russell Cheney Russell Cheney (October 16, 1881 – July 12, 1945) was an American Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and New England regionalist painter. Early life and education The youngest of eleven children, Cheney was born in Manchester, Connecticut, to ...

(1881–1945), American painter * Ruth Cheney Streeter (1895–1990), the first director of the United States Marine Corps Women's Reserve (USMCWR) *

Seth Wells Cheney Seth Wells Cheney (November 28, 1810 – September 10, 1856) was an American artist and a pioneer of crayon work in the United States. Biography He was the son of George Cheney and Electa Woodbridge. He received a public school education. In 18 ...

(1810–1856), American artist and pioneer of crayon work *

Sheldon Warren Cheney Sheldon Warren Cheney (June 29, 1886 – October 10, 1980) was an American author and art critic, born at Berkeley, California, the son of Lemuel Warren Cheney (1858–1921), California lawyer and writer, and May L. Cheney (1862–1942), Appointmen ...

(1886–1980), American author and critic *

Sherwood Cheney Sherwood Alfred Cheney (August 24, 1873 – March 13, 1949) was an American military engineer who served as a brigadier general in the US Army Corps of Engineers during World War I and as an aide to President Calvin Coolidge. Early life and e ...

(1873–1949), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers brigadier general * Stephen A. Cheney, U. S. Marine Corps brigadier general * Syl Cheney-Coker (born 1945), poet, novelist and journalist from Sierra Leone *

Thomas Cheney Sir Thomas Cheney (or Cheyne) Order of the Garter, KG (c. 1485 – 16 December 1558) of the Blackfriars, City of London and Shurland, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, was an English administrator and diplomat, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports in South ...

(c. 1485 – 1558), Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports * Thomas C. Cheney (1868–1957), Vermont politician * Tom Cheney (disambiguation), several people *

Ward Cheney Ward may refer to: Division or unit * Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward * Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a pris ...

(1813–1876), American pioneer manufacturer of silk fabrics *

Yarrow Cheney Yarrow Cheney (born 1973) is an American artist, film director, designer, author, illustrator, and animator. He is best known for his works as a production designer in ''Despicable Me 2'' (2013), ''The Lorax'' (2012), and ''Despicable Me'' (2010 ...

, American production designer, visual effects artist, director and animator

See also