Cheney

Cheney, originally de Cheney, is a toponymic surname of Old French origin, introduced into England by the Normans. The derivation is from the Old French 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, Chesnay, le Chesnay, 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 (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 (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 (1900–1990), Georgia novelist, playwright and essayist C. R. Cheney (1906–1987), medieval historian Charles E. Cheney (1836–1916), Reformed Episcopal Church bishop from New York Chris Cheney (born 1975), guitarist and lead singer of Australian rock band The Living End Colin Cheney (born 1978), American poet David D. Cheney (1822–1904), Wisconsin State Assembly member David W. Cheney (1859–1913), Wisconsin State Assembly member Dick Cheney (born 1941), 46th Vice President of the United States and former United States Representative Dorothy Cheney (1916–2014), tennis player Dorothy Cheney (scientist) (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 (1788-1846) led the Royal Scots Greys as temporary Brevet Colonel at the Battle of Waterloo Edwin Cheney (1869–1942), commissioned the Frank Lloyd Wright Cheney House Elizabeth Cheney (gentry) (1422–1473), English aristocrat Ellen Cheney Johnson (1829–1899), American prison reformer Elliott Ward Cheney Jr.