Cheney, originally de Cheney, is a

toponymic surname A toponymic surname or habitational surname or byname is a surname or byname derived from a place name,

Old French Old French (, , ; ) was the language spoken in most of the northern half of France approximately between the late 8th

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

by the Normans. The derivation is from the

Old French Old French (, , ; ) was the language spoken in most of the northern half of France approximately between the late 8th [2-4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of French, that is, when it wa ...

''chesne'' (modern French: ''chêne'') "oak tree" with the Old French suffix ''-ei / -ai'' meaning "collection of [trees]", 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 ''chesnaie'' ("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, fr ...

, la Chesnaye, 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 (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 from the worlds of stage and film. Biography Johnsto ...

(1885–1971), American photographer known for his portraits of Ziegfeld Follies showgirls * Amherst B. Cheney (1841–1927), American politician from Michigan *

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 ...

(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 Benjamin Pierce Cheney ( ; August 12, 1815 – July 23, 1895) was an American businessman, and a founder of the firm that became American Express. Early life Cheney was born in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, on August 12, 1815, to Jesse and A ...

(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 (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 199 ...

(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. ...

(1859–1913), Wisconsin State Assembly member *

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

(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 Open, Australia ...

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

Edward Cheney Colonel Edward Hawkins Cheney (4 November 1778 – 3 March 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 during the battl ...

(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 (then in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, now in Belgium), marking the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The French Imperial Army (1804–1815), Frenc ...

* Edwin Cheney (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. She represented in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2017 to 2023, and served as chair of the House Republican Conference from 2019 to 2021. Cheney is ...

(1422–1473), English aristocrat * Ellen Cheney Johnson (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 people, American author. Her first book, ''It's Like This, Cat'' (1963), won the Newbery Medal in 1964. Personal life and education Neville was born on Decemb ...

(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 Grahame Francis "Spike" Cheney (born 27 April 1969) is a retired Australian boxer, who won a light welterweight (63.5 kg) silver medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics. Cheney also won a bronze medal in the welterweight (67 kg) division ...

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

, American film producer *

Janice Wright Cheney Janice Wright Cheney (born 1961) is a Canadian visual artist based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Career Born in Montreal, Quebec, Wright Cheney studied visual arts at Mount Allison University (1983) and Critical Studies in Education at the Un ...

, Canadian textile artist * John Cheney (disambiguation), several people * Kimberly B. Cheney (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 political digital newspaper company founded by American banker and media executive Robert Allbritton in 2007. It covers politics and policy in the Unit ...

* Larry Cheney (1886–1969), American baseball player *

Lauren Cheney Lauren Cheney Holiday (born Lauren Nicole Cheney; September 30, 1987) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a midfielder and Forward (association football), forward for the United States women's national soccer team fr ...

(born 1987), American soccer player *

Liz Cheney Elizabeth Lynne Cheney (; born July 28, 1966) is an American attorney and politician. She represented in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2017 to 2023, and served as chair of the House Republican Conference from 2019 to 2021. Cheney i ...

(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 served as the second lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009 when her husband was vice president. Childhood and education Lynne An ...

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

Margaret Cheney Margaret Cheney (born 1955) is an American mathematician whose research involves inverse problems. She is Yates Chair and Professor of Mathematics at Colorado State University. Education and career Cheney graduated from Oberlin College in 1976, w ...

(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 Mary Moulton Cheney (1871 – 1957) was an artist and visual arts educator in Minneapolis. In addition to her own work with printmaking, bookbinding and design, she was also involved with the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, the Handicr ...

(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 Be ...

(1816–1903), abolitionist, founder of Bates College and Maine state Representative *

Person Colby Cheney Person Colby Cheney (February 25, 1828 – June 19, 1901) was a paper manufacturer, abolitionist and Republican politician from Manchester, New Hampshire. He was the 35th governor of New Hampshire and later represented the state in the United St ...

(1828–1901), United States Senator, Governor of New Hampshire * Peter Cheney, 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, accordi ...

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

(1881–1945), American painter *

Ruth Cheney Streeter Ruth Cheney Streeter (October 2, 1895 – September 30, 1990) was an American military officer who was the first director of the United States Marine Corps Women's Reserve (USMCWR). In 1943, she became the first woman to attain the rank of major ...

(1895–1990), the first director of the United States Marine Corps Women's Reserve (USMCWR) * Seth Wells Cheney (1810–1856), American artist and pioneer of crayon work *

Sheldon Warren Cheney Sheldon Warren Cheney (June 29, 1886CHENEY, Sheldon Warren
in ''

Sherwood Cheney (1873–1949), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers brigadier general * Stephen A. Cheney, U. S. Marine Corps brigadier general *

Syl Cheney-Coker Syl Cheney-Coker (born 28 June 1945)R. Victoria Arana"Cheney-Coker, Syl" in ''Encyclopedia of World Poetry'', Infobase Learning, 2015. is a poet, novelist, and journalist from Freetown, Sierra Leone. Educated in the United States, he has a glob ...

(born 1945), poet, novelist and journalist from Sierra Leone *

Thomas Cheney Sir Thomas Cheney (or Cheyne) ( – 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-east England from 1536 until h ...

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

Tom Cheney (disambiguation) Tom or Thomas Cheney may refer to: *Thomas Cheney (c. 1485–1558), Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports * Thomas Cheyney (priest) (1694–1760), Church of England priest * Thomas C. Cheney (1868–1957), Vermont politician and attorney * Thomas Cheney ...

, several people *

Valerie Key-Cheney Valerie Key-Cheney is an Apache politician serving as a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribal Council for the Peridot district since 2018. Career Key-Cheney was a special projects manager with the San Carlos Apache Tribe Office of the Genera ...

, Apache politician *

Ward Cheney Ward Cheney (23 February 1813 Manchester, Connecticut - 22 March 1876) was a pioneer manufacturer of silk fabrics. Biography Cheney was principal founder of the house of Cheney Brothers and was most active in its business management. He entered the ...

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

William de Chesney (sheriff) William de Chesney (died 1174) was a medieval Anglo-Norman nobleman and sheriff. The son of a landholder in Norfolk, William inherited after the death of his two elder brothers. He was the founder of Sibton Abbey, as well as a benefactor of ot ...

, oldest know member of the Cheney family, 12th century sheriff of

Norfolk Norfolk ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in England, located in East Anglia and officially part of the East of England region. It borders Lincolnshire and The Wash to the north-west, the North Sea to the north and eas ...

. *

Yarrow Cheney Yarrow Cheney (born 1973) is an American director, artist, designer, author, illustrator and animator. He was a production designer in '' Despicable Me 2'' (2013), '' The Lorax'' (2012), and '' Despicable Me'' (2010), for which he received Prim ...

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

See also