Find out how popular the last name Chaney is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Chaney.

Chaney, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Chaney surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chaney in America

Chaney is the 1059th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chaney surname appeared 33,201 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 11 people would have the surname Chaney.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chaney to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Chaney

The surname Chaney has its roots in France, originating from the Old French word "chanoine," which translates to "canon" or "member of a cathedral clergy." The name's earliest recorded instances can be traced back to the 12th century in the region of Normandy.

In the medieval period, the name Chaney was often associated with individuals who held positions within the clergy or had close ties to religious institutions. It's believed that the name was initially bestowed upon those who lived near or worked in cathedral precincts, gradually evolving into a hereditary surname.

One of the earliest known references to the name Chaney can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1199, which mention a certain "Radulfus Chanonie." This record suggests that the name had already gained prominence in England by the late 12th century, likely brought over by Norman settlers after the conquest of 1066.

The Chaney surname has undergone various spelling variations throughout history, including Chaneye, Chaunay, and Channy. These variations reflect the influences of regional dialects and scribal errors in record-keeping during the Middle Ages.

Prominent individuals bearing the Chaney surname include John Chaney (1765-1845), an early American settler and Revolutionary War veteran from Pennsylvania. Another notable figure was William Chaney (1821-1889), a prosperous businessman and pioneer in the logging industry of Wisconsin.

In the literary realm, John Armstrong Chaney (1856-1922) was an acclaimed American author and journalist, best known for his works on Native American culture and the American West. Chaney's writings provided valuable insights into the lives and traditions of indigenous communities during the late 19th century.

The name Chaney has also been associated with various place names, such as Chaneyville, a small community in Louisiana named after the Chaney family who settled there in the early 19th century. Additionally, Chaney Creek in Oregon bears the name of an early settler, likely a member of the same family.

Throughout the centuries, the Chaney surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, ranging from clergymen and soldiers to writers and entrepreneurs. While its origins can be traced back to medieval France, the name has since become a part of the cultural tapestry of numerous countries and communities worldwide.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chaney

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Chaney.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Chaney was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Chaney has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Chaney was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Chaney, please contact us.

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