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

Cheyne, 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 Cheyne surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cheyne in America

Cheyne is the 26549th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cheyne surname appeared 918 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Cheyne.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cheyne 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 Cheyne

The surname Cheyne is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cyne," which means "royal" or "kingly." This suggests that the name may have initially been bestowed upon someone with a prestigious or noble status.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Chene," which is thought to be an early spelling variation of Cheyne.

During the 12th century, the Cheyne family established themselves as landowners in various parts of England, including Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. Notably, Roger de Cheyne (c. 1170-1233) was a prominent figure who held the position of Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset in the early 13th century.

The name Cheyne is also associated with several place names in England, such as Cheyne Walk in London, which was named after the Cheyne family who owned land in the area during the 17th century.

One of the most renowned individuals bearing the Cheyne surname was Sir John Cheyne (c. 1424-1487), a prominent English soldier and diplomat who served under King Edward IV and King Richard III during the Wars of the Roses. He was appointed as the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and played a crucial role in the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471.

Another notable figure with the Cheyne surname was Sir Thomas Cheyne (c. 1485-1558), an English military commander and courtier who served under King Henry VIII. He was appointed as the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and played a significant role in suppressing the Pilgrimage of Grace, a major uprising against the religious reforms of Henry VIII.

In the literary realm, Charles Cheyne (1836-1916) was an English clergyman and writer known for his works on astronomy and religion, including "The Earth's Place in the Universe" and "The Reconciliation of Science and Religion."

Additionally, George Cheyne (1671-1743) was a Scottish physician and philosopher who made significant contributions to the study of nutrition and health. He is renowned for his work "An Essay on Health and Long Life," which advocated for a balanced diet and regular exercise.

Finally, William Cheyne (1852-1932) was a British naval officer and explorer who participated in several Arctic expeditions, including the British Arctic Expedition of 1875-1876, where he served as the commander of the ship HMS Alert.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cheyne

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

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 Cheyne 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 Cheyne 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 Cheyne was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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