Sir John Cheney of Shurland

Also known as de Cheyne, de Caineto, du Chene, Chene, Cheyne, Cheney, or Cheyney He was Knight of Shurland; Justice of the Peace; Sheriff; Knight of Shire, Kent; and Victualler at Calais. Alternate birth dates found: 1410 and 1415. Alternate deathdates found: Bef Nov 1487, 1422 (clearly an error since his children were born later). John is a very common name in all Cheney lines and is often confused.

http://www.britishplate.org.uk/johncheney/johncheney.html The family of Cheney can be traced back to Ralph de Caineto who died in 1086. Ralph came over with William the conqueror. The family name came from either de Caineto and possibly through du Chene (of the oak) the spellings change through generations and branches of the family to finally settle on the spelling we are familiar with. Whether the name is de Caineto, du Chene, Chene, Cheyne, Cheney or Cheyney, the family descent is the same. In the intervening generations the Cheney family served as sheriffs and other offices. The family had a tradition of service as royal retainers, so it was only to be expected that the eldest son of this generation would continue in royal service Through patronage and marriage the Cheney family grew in prominence and their subsequent positions within the great houses gained influence and connections. (Roger du Cheyne was a squire in the household of John, duke of Lancaster, eventually making knight.) John’s father, also called John Cheney was noted as being in the retinue of Henry VI as knight of the body in 1460.