Explore the Family Name Chenier
The meaning of Chenier
1. French (Chénier): topographic name for someone who lived by an oak wood or in area characterized by oak trees, from a derivative of Old French chesne ‘oak’ (see Chene); or a habitational name from Chénier, Chéniers, or (Le) Chesnier, names of several places in the west-central part of France, of the same etymology. 2. Altered form (Chénier) of French Canadian Cheney 3. History: Jean Chénier from Celles in Charente-Maritime, France, married Jacqueline Sédilot in Quebec City, QC, in 1651. — Some of the American bearers of the surname Chénier or Chenier are descendants of Bertrand Chesnay/Chenay dit/sieur de La Garenne from Brittany (France); see Cheney. Some characteristic forenames: French Antoine, Fernand, Gaston, Gisele, Lucien, Normand.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Chenier in the United States?
The surname Chenier has seen a slight increase in popularity according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, it ranked as the 21,054th most popular surname in the country and climbed to the 20,709th spot in 2010, marking a 1.64% increase. The number of individuals bearing this surname also grew from 1,163 in 2000 to 1,277 in 2010, a rise of 9.8%. However, when considering proportions per 100,000 people, there was no change in its distribution, remaining at 0.43.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #21,054 | #20,709 | 1.64% |
| Count | 1,163 | 1,277 | 9.8% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.43 | 0.43 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Chenier
When examining the ethnic identity associated with the Chenier surname, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals interesting changes between 2000 and 2010. Although the surname remains predominantly White (60.06%) and Black (33.75%), there has been some fluctuation. The percentage of Whites increased by 1.97%, whereas the proportion of Blacks decreased by 5.41%. There was a significant surge in those identifying as Hispanic, with an impressive 96.93% rise. Those identifying as two or more races saw a decrease of 26.10%. It's worth noting that no individuals identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native during these census years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 58.9% | 60.06% | 1.97% |
| Black | 35.68% | 33.75% | -5.41% |
| Hispanic | 1.63% | 3.21% | 96.93% |
| Two or More Races | 3.18% | 2.35% | -26.1% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |