Don wrote:
> Based upon Mike Cheney's ........
Ah, you've used the old spelling. It was my great grandfather (so family
lore has it) who, when being taught to write his name about a century and a
half ago exclaimed "that don't say Chayney, that says Cheeney" and our
branch of the family have used what I have always thought of as the American
spelling ever since. (I note, incidentally, that one of our clan has found
his way into the White House.) The name was originally Dequesne, being 11th
century Norman French for "of the oak grove". I just haven't manage to
trace a direct connection that far back - yet!
Mike
p.s. no offence taken, Don
