Show ContentsChancey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Chancey

What does the name Chancey mean?

The vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066 brought the Chancey family name to the British Isles. They lived in Cauncy, near Amiens, in northern France. The Sieur de Cauncy came from here. "His descendant Sir Henry Chauncy gained distinction as the historian of Hertfordshire. Many of the name and family are settled in that county." 1

"It is quite possible that Chance may have been a personal name, like Bonaventure, which it exactly represented; chance in Middle English generally meaning a happy accident, a good mishap. " 2

Early Origins of the Chancey family

The surname Chancey was first found in Essex where Robert and Ralph Chance were listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1209 and later in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1310. Simon de Chanci was listed in the Assize Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1218 and later, Roger de Chauncy was found in the Pipe Rolls for Yorkshire in 1230. Also in Yorkshire, we found John Chancy listed there 1293-1294. Later, Roger Chansi was listed in Gloucestershire in 1361. 3

Early History of the Chancey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chancey research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1581, 1592, 1632, 1654, 1672, 1691, 1712 and 1719 are included under the topic Early Chancey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chancey Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Chance, Chancey, Chaunceur, Channsy, Channsey, Chauncey, Chancy and many more.

Early Notables of the Chancey family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Maurice Chauncy (d. 1581), Carthusian monk, whose surname is found under the forms of Chamney, Chawney, Chancy, Channy, Chenye, Chasee, and Chawsey, was the eldest son of John Chauncy, esq., of Ardele, Hertfordshire. 4 and Charles Chauncy (1592-1672), was an English-born, American clergyman and educator from Yardleybury (Ardeley), Hertfordshire who became President of Harvard College in...
Another 64 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Chancey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chancey Ranking

In the United States, the name Chancey is the 6,880th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 5


Chancey migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Chancey or a variant listed above:

Chancey Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Charles Chancey, who settled in Virginia with his wife and two children, in 1621
  • Alexander Chancey, who arrived in Maryland in 1675 6
Chancey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Benjamin Chancey, who landed in Virginia in 1722 6
Chancey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Oliver Chancey, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 6
Chancey Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Adelaide Chancey, aged 28, who landed in America, in 1909
  • Alix Wallace Chancey, aged 19, who immigrated to America, in 1909
  • Mrs. George Chancey, aged 50, who landed in America, in 1909
  • Newcomb K. Chancey, aged 24, who settled in America, in 1910
  • Laurence Chancey, aged 21, who landed in America, in 1921
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Chancey migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Chancey Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Michael Chancey U.E. who settled in Prince Edward County, Ontario c. 1783 7
Chancey Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • William Otto Chancey, aged 21, who immigrated to St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1916

Contemporary Notables of the name Chancey (post 1700) +

  • Robert Dewayne Chancey (b. 1972), former American football fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers, Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys
  • Robert E. L. Chancey (1880-1948), American politician, 44th Mayor of Tampa, Florida (1931-1943) 8
  • Ron Chancey (b. 1935), American record producer who works primarily in the country music field, father of Blake Chancey
  • Vincent Chancey (b. 1950), American jazz hornist
  • Martin Chancey, American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from New York County 12th District, 1934 8
  • James Chancey, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Alabama, 1972 8
  • Bryan Chancey, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Alabama, 1952 8
  • Tina Chancey, American multi-instrumentalist specializing in early bowed strings
  • Blake Chancey (b. 1962), American record producer and music business executive
  • Chancey McCormick, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1936 9


  1. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. 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)
  7. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, April 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 16) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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