Show ContentsChanin Surname History

The ancestors of the name Chanin date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Chanin family lived in Cann, a parish in the county of Dorset. The surname Chanin is a palatal form of the surname Canning, of toponymic origin, deriving from the place-name Cann mentioned above. The word palatal is a phonological term. Phonology is the study of sounds used in language. The sounds able to be produced by humans and used in speech are classified into several types: labial, for sounds produced by the lips; dental, for sounds produced by the tongue against the teeth; palatal, for sounds produced by the tongue against the hard palate (found at the roof of the mouth in the front); and uvular, for sounds made at the back of the throat. The translation from the s sound to the sh sound, or the one from c to ch, is known as the palatal translation, for it is accomplished by moving the tongue from the teeth to the hard palate while keeping the tongue in the same form.

Early Origins of the Chanin family

The surname Chanin was first found in Hertfordshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Chanin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chanin research. Another 56 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1086 is included under the topic Early Chanin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chanin Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Chanin are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Chanin include: Channing, Chaning, Chening, Channings and others.

Early Notables of the Chanin family

More information is included under the topic Early Chanin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Chanin family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Chanin or a variant listed above: John Channing who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1712; William Channing and Mrs. Channing settled in Nantucket Mass in 1823; Joseph Channings arrived in New Orleans in 1823..


Contemporary Notables of the name Chanin (post 1700) +

  • Herschell Chanin, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 13th District, 1966 1
  • Abraham M. Chanin, American politician, Candidate for New York State Senate 1st District, 1936 1


  1. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 3) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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