NameCensus.

UK surname

Cheyne

A surname derived from a place name in Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 994 people recorded with the Cheyne surname, ranking it #3,921 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,551, ranked #3,990, down from #3,921 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Walls and Sandness, Edinburgh and Methlick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mearns North and Inverbervie, Turriff and Banff.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cheyne is 1,595 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.0%.

1881 census count

994

Ranked #3,921

Modern count

1,551

2016, ranked #3,990

Peak year

2010

1,595 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cheyne had 994 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,921 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,551 in 2016, ranked #3,990.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,334 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Cheyne surname distribution map

The map shows where the Cheyne surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Cheyne surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cheyne over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 620 #4,170
1861 historical 682 #3,946
1881 historical 994 #3,921
1891 historical 1,177 #3,636
1901 historical 1,334 #3,753
1911 historical 184 #15,742
1997 modern 1,509 #3,885
1998 modern 1,513 #4,014
1999 modern 1,569 #3,932
2000 modern 1,571 #3,909
2001 modern 1,537 #3,909
2002 modern 1,569 #3,927
2003 modern 1,534 #3,920
2004 modern 1,523 #3,944
2005 modern 1,510 #3,940
2006 modern 1,496 #3,976
2007 modern 1,525 #3,930
2008 modern 1,522 #3,962
2009 modern 1,567 #3,954
2010 modern 1,595 #3,961
2011 modern 1,555 #4,021
2012 modern 1,515 #4,048
2013 modern 1,564 #3,995
2014 modern 1,552 #4,048
2015 modern 1,548 #4,011
2016 modern 1,551 #3,990

Geography

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Where Cheynes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Walls and Sandness, Edinburgh, Methlick, Fyvie and Fraserburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mearns North and Inverbervie, Turriff, Banff, Rosehearty and Strathbeg and Badenoch and Strathspey South. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Walls and Sandness Shetland
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Methlick Aberdeen
4 Fyvie Aberdeen
5 Fraserburgh Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mearns North and Inverbervie Aberdeenshire
2 Turriff Aberdeenshire
3 Banff Aberdeenshire
4 Rosehearty and Strathbeg Aberdeenshire
5 Badenoch and Strathspey South Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cheyne

These lists show first names that appear often with the Cheyne surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cheyne

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cheyne, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Cheyne surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Cheyne household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cheyne is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cheyne is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cheyne falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cheyne is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Cheyne, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of 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.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cheyne families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cheyne surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Aberdeenshire leads with 491 Cheynes recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.57x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 491 54.57x
Shetland 133 134.03x
Midlothian 101 7.76x
Banffshire 36 17.86x
Angus 23 2.56x
Northumberland 23 1.59x
Kincardineshire 22 18.59x
Middlesex 22 0.23x
Lanarkshire 21 0.67x
Renfrewshire 20 2.66x
Fife 12 2.09x
Surrey 12 0.25x
Kent 9 0.27x
Glamorgan 7 0.41x
Hampshire 7 0.35x
Lancashire 7 0.06x
Somerset 6 0.38x
Caithness 5 3.76x
Dumfriesshire 5 2.33x
Morayshire 5 3.31x
Selkirkshire 5 5.69x
Berkshire 3 0.41x
Royal Navy 3 2.59x
Yorkshire 3 0.03x
Devon 2 0.10x
Durham 2 0.07x
Essex 2 0.10x
Norfolk 2 0.13x
Orkney 2 1.87x
Perthshire 2 0.46x
Cheshire 1 0.05x
Dorset 1 0.16x
Suffolk 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Methlick in Aberdeenshire leads with 54 Cheynes recorded in 1881 and an index of 750.00x.

Place Total Index
Methlick 54 750.00x
Aberdeen Old Machar 53 28.21x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 53 31.48x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 43 8.21x
Dunrossness 38 290.96x
Fraserburgh 34 134.23x
Old Deer 33 193.55x
Northmavine 26 343.92x
Walls Sandness 25 1302.08x
Monquhitter 24 257.51x
Fyvie 21 143.05x
Peterhead 21 44.14x
Sandsting Aitsting 20 222.47x
Tarves 19 223.27x
Turriff 18 123.97x
Cullen 15 200.80x
Strichen 14 179.03x
Meldrum 13 171.50x
Dundee 12 3.57x
Inveresk 12 34.05x
Lerwick Gulberwick 12 78.13x
Longside 12 111.63x
Dalkeith 11 42.83x
Banchory Devenick 10 90.50x
Cruden 10 86.28x
Dyce 10 257.73x
Govan 10 1.29x
Inverurie 10 98.23x
Auchterless 9 126.05x
Cowpen 9 27.04x
New Deer 9 55.25x
Newhills 9 48.86x
Deptford St Paul 8 3.13x
Edinburgh Canongate 8 24.15x
Kilbarchan 8 34.98x
St Marylebone London 8 1.54x
Tyrie 8 70.86x
Briton Ferry 7 34.69x
Longbenton 7 11.43x
Lonmay 7 85.68x
Portsea 7 1.79x
Rathen 7 74.23x
Abbey 6 5.22x
Beath 6 33.00x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 6 19.49x
Fordyce 6 41.38x
Kensington London 6 1.11x
Lambeth 6 0.71x
Newburgh 6 82.08x
Paisley High Church 6 10.01x
Puriton 6 239.04x
Rathven 6 15.85x
South Leith 6 4.10x
Tingwall 6 120.97x
Walls 6 124.74x
Byker 5 7.00x
Dryfesdale 5 50.56x
Durris 5 147.49x
Keig 5 193.80x
Lasswade 5 16.80x
New Machar 5 98.81x
New Monkland 5 5.38x
Nigg 5 51.07x
Peterculter 5 78.74x
Selkirk 5 20.19x
Canisbay 4 45.82x
Careston 4 606.06x
Croydon 4 1.52x
Drumoak 4 129.03x
Duddingston 4 15.31x
Elgin 4 13.62x
Glasgow 4 0.72x
Hackney London 4 0.73x
Montrose 4 7.33x
Monymusk 4 103.90x
Liff Benvie 3 2.20x
Mortlach 3 30.49x
Premnay 3 97.09x
Rayne 3 70.26x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cheyne surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Elizabeth 5
Margaret 5
Mary 4
Jane 3
Alice 2
Caroline 2
Ellen 2
Isabella 2
Maggie 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alexandria 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Barbara 1
Beatrice 1
Cecil 1
Charlotte 1
Christiana 1
Dora 1
Eliz. 1
Eliza 1
Ellizabeth 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Fannie 1
Grace 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Laurine 1
Rosetta 1
Susanna 1
Sybella 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cheyne surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 9
George 6
Robert 5
Charles 4
James 4
John 4
Alexander 2
David 2
Thomas 2
Andw. 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Emma 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Grerson 1
Henry 1
Leo 1
Magnus 1
Marmaduke 1
Sevenright 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1
Wm.John 1

FAQ

Cheyne surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cheyne surname in 1881?

In 1881, 994 people were recorded with the Cheyne surname. That placed it at #3,921 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cheyne surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,551 in 2016. That gives Cheyne a modern rank of #3,990.

What does the Cheyne surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name in Scotland.

What does the Cheyne map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cheyne bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.