A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cheyney family of England.
Reg. 9105 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Sa. six martlets or, three, two, and one, a canton of the second”
BedfordshireBedfordshire, c. 1620
Where the Cheyney Arms Were Recorded
Bedfordshire
Map of England showing where the Cheyney arms are recorded
The Cheyney arms were recorded in Bedfordshire, c. 1620.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Cheyney arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Bedfordshire.
Origin & History of the Cheyney Family in England
The surname Cheyney is rooted in the Old French word *chesne*, which translates to oak tree. It was originally used as a topographic name to describe someone who lived near a prominent oak or within an oak forest. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in Bedfordshire, England. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Cheyney family were active residents in this region during a time of significant social and religious transition. As the family settled into the local landscape, they became part of the agricultural and community life that defined rural England before the era of mass migration to the American colonies. Their history reflects the common practice of adopting surnames based on the natural features of the land where families first built their homes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Chesne
Old French word for an oak tree.
This name
CheyneyA topographic name for someone who lived near an oak tree or an oak forest.
also spelled
Cheney
Cheyne
Chainey
Cheiney
Related arms
Dentonsame arms
Chein, Cheine, or Chienvariant spelling
Cheineyvariant spelling
Cheneyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Cottle, Basil, The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, 1967
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
