Chenier History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France

During the Middle Ages, the surname of Chenier was used in France. While the patronymic and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the name of the father and mother respectively, are the most common form of a hereditary surname in France. Occupational surnames also emerged during the late Middle Ages. Many people, such as the Chenier family, adopted the name of their occupation as their surname. However, an occupational name did not become a hereditary surname until the office or type of employment became hereditary. The surname Chenier derives from the Old French word "grenier" and was an occupational name for a worker at a mill or granary.

Early Origins of the Chenier family

The surname Chenier was first found in île-de-France in the seigneurie of where they have held a family seat since ancient times.

The family later branched to Languedoc and Haute-Auvergne where Antoine Grenier de Lassagne is mentioned at Vaour in 1450. Branching once again, a family of gentleman glass makers, also related to ancient champion swordsmen, established themselves at Perigord.

Arnaud Grenier acquired Nabinaud in the parish of Pizou on 3rd October 1564 and with the added responsibilities of his nobility, he was relieved of his duties of the fiefs. Daniel, his son, became a captain January 1585. Guy, Daniel's son, was a gentleman cavalier and the Lord of Nabinaud and he married Rachel du Bruel in 1619. Daniel, Lord of Nabinaud and of Capejou had his nobility confirmed by a judgement from the court of tax disputes of Guyenne on 23rd February 1664. François Grenier de Pleaux and de la Borie was a famous chief of a political league. His descendant, Louis, marquis of Pleaux, married Marie de Montclar in 1711.

The Grenier de Moulon and de Sanxet family of Guyenne and Périgord received their rank of nobility in 1700 and their status was maintained in 1740. Branching once again, this time to Auvergne, Benoit, judge of Langeac, had a son, Jean, who was a Baron of the Empire in 1811. Antoine Grenier de Ruère, Jean's nephew, was the grand-father of Emile who married Julie Choriot de Ruère in 1882 and their son was adopted by Antoine of Ruère, his maternal uncle.

Charles Grenier, born in 1636, son of Guillaume, Sieur of Bois-Fontaine, and Françoise, Dame of Challeu of Tournebu, travelled from Normandy, France to Canada in the 17th century. After arriving in Quebec he married Marie-Louise Vezina, daughter of Jacques and Marie (née Bouaselon), on 21st December 1664. They remained together in Quebec until Charles passed away at Beauport on 6th February 1717. 1

Early History of the Chenier family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chenier research. The year 1252 is included under the topic Early Chenier History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chenier Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Grenier, Grenie, Grenyer, Grenye, Greniait, Greniai, Greniaie, Greniay, Greniez, Grenyait, Grenyai, Grenyaie, Grenyay, Grenyez, Chenier, Chenie, Chenyer, Chenye, Cheniait, Cheniai, Cheniaie, Cheniay, Cheniez, Chenyait, Chenyai, Chenyaie, Chenyay, Chenyez, Grennier, Grennie, Grennyer, Grennye, Grenniait, Grenniai, Grenniaie, Grenniay, Grenniez, Grennyait, Grennyai, Grennyaie, Grennyay, Grennyez, Chennier, Chennie, Chennyer, Chennyer, Chenniait, Chenniai, Chenniaie, Cheniay, Chenniez, Chennyait, Chennyai, chennyaie, Chennyay and many more.

Early Notables of the Chenier family

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

Chenier Ranking

In the United States, the name Chenier is the 15,893^rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2 However, in Quebec, Canada, the name Chenier is ranked the 540^th most popular surname. 3

Chenier migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Chenier Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Ignace Chenier, aged 42, who landed in Missouri in 1812 4

Chenier migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Chenier Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Jean Chenier, son of Jean and Marguerite, who married Jacqueline Sédilot, daughter of Louis and Marie, in Quebec on 23rd October 1651 5
Jean Chenier, son of Jean and Marguerite, who married Marie Gresleau, daughter of Hilaire and Lueria, in Quebec on 23rd November 1667 5
Jean Chenier, son of Jean and Jacqueline, who married Marie-Geneviève Ferret, daughter of Pierre and Marie, in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec on 8th February 1683 5
Jean Chenier, son of Jean and Jacqueline, who married Marie-Jeanne Arrivé-Deslile, daughter of Jacques and Renée, in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec on 21st February 1689 5

Chenier Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Jean-Baptiste Chenier, son of Jean and Marie-Geneviève, who married Barbe Rapin, daughter of André and Clémence, in Lachine, Quebec on 7th April 1709 5
Joseph Chenier, son of Jean and Marie-Geneviève, who married Madeleine Duboc, daughter of Guillaume and Barbe, in Quebec on 18th September 1713 5
François Chenier, son of Jean-Baptiste and Barbe, who married Suzanne-Amanda Blondeau, daughter of Joseph and Marie-Angélique, in Lachine, Quebec on 27th November 1752 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Chenier (post 1700) +

George Chenier (1907-1970), North American Snooker Champion from 1948 to 1970
C. J. Chenier (b. 1957), born Clayton Joseph Thompson, American singer and accordion performer, son of the legendary Clifton Chenier
Philip Chenier (b. 1950), American former professional NBA basketball player and current television sports broadcaster
Clifton Chenier (1925-1987), American Creole French-speaking Grammy Award winning blues player from Opelousas, Louisiana, National Heritage Fellow in 1984 and inducted posthumously into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1989
André Marie Chénier (1762-1794), French poet who was executed by the guillotine during the French Revolution
Felix Chenier (1843-1910), Canadian lawyer and politician who represented Baie St. Paul in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1875 to 1878
Jean-Olivier Chénier (1806-1837), Canadian physician in Lower Canada, Commander of the Patriote forces in the Battle of Saint-Eustache during the Lower Canada Rebellion
Jacques Raymond "Ray" Chénier (b. 1935), Canadian politician, Member of Parliament for Timmins-Chapleau (1979-1984)

Citations +

Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 1, Institut Drouin, 1958.