Chery
A surname with multiple possible origins, most likely from a place-name or a French family name, though the historical evidence here is thin.
The #8,232 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 76,669 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The excerpts do not give a single secure derivation for Chery. In English records, the form appears alongside medieval spellings such as Chery/Cherry, which could reflect a nickname, a place-name, or a spelling variant of another surname. The French material points to Vauchery and related names, suggesting a French toponymic or patronymic background in some cases.
History
The name shows up in English records by the 16th century in spellings such as Chery and Cherry. The French evidence suggests that some modern bearers may descend from French families with similar-sounding surnames or related place-based names. Because the excerpted sources are incidental mentions rather than full entries, the exact origin for this surname cannot be fixed with confidence.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The spelling overlap with the common word cherry has probably helped keep this surname visually memorable, even when its true origin is unrelated to the fruit.
From the historical record
“Nash, ftc. M.E. chtty or thin. William Chine. CO, Derby, lajs. A. William Chery, C. R., 31 Hen.^fL IS6CJ. MarTied-William Cherve and Alyce Foie ; St. Michael, Cornhiil, p. lu. ieChen”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with special American instances