Skip to main content

Updated June 9, 2019

Family name origins & meanings

  • French : from Old French chain, a device for catching birds, possibly applied as a metonymic occupational name for a bird-catcher or a hunter. In some cases it may be an American spelling of the French topographic surname Chêne (see Chene).

Join the Family

Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning.

Subscribe