Chevalier Family History

French: from Old French chevalier ‘knight’ (literally ‘horseman rider’ from Late Latin caballarius a derivative of caballus ‘horse’). In the Middle Ages only men of comparative wealth were able to afford the upkeep of a riding horse.

It is likely that in the majority of cases the surname was originally a nickname or an occupational name for a knight's servant rather than a status name for most men of the knightly class belonged to noble families which had more specific surnames derived from their estates.

This was a name of Norman origin in England but probably did not survive the medieval period and was later reintroduced by Huguenot refugees.