Chai Surname

529th
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 1,025,020 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
China
Highest density in:
Singapore

Chai Surname User-submission:

Chai is a Chinese surname that derives from the name of the ancient Cai state. It is regionally more common in China's Fujian Province and in areas settled by ethnic Chinese from that province than in China as a whole. The surname is the 34th most common surname in China, but the 9th most common in Taiwan, where it is usually romanized as Tsai based on Wade-Giles romanization of Standard Mandarin and the 8th most common in Singapore, where it is usually romanized as Chua, which is based on Hokkien pronunciation.

Read More About This Surname

Chai Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
China905,1131:1,511143
Malaysia53,3091:55366
Singapore20,2991:27145
Cambodia11,0451:1,402337
Kenya7,1051:6,500873
Thailand4,9651:14,227998
United States4,6341:78,2178,933
Hong Kong3,4441:2,130156
Myanmar1,9831:26,192466
Taiwan1,7021:13,775217
Australia1,2191:22,1463,057
Indonesia1,1321:116,82811,832
Tanzania1,0501:50,4215,602
Canada1,0111:36,4454,638
Iran7581:101,2969,884
Brunei6561:638117
India6141:1,249,29249,620
Nigeria5751:308,07417,128
Macau5271:1,142159
Jamaica4481:6,406797
England3961:140,70213,671
Niger3481:55,1492,699
United Arab Emirates2441:37,5503,969
South Africa2271:238,66824,509
Vietnam2171:426,9401,342
Morocco2041:169,00029,345
New Zealand1981:22,8704,013
France1721:386,17957,106
South Korea1091:470,094247
Germany761:1,059,28271,604
Philippines671:1,511,018105,084
Trinidad and Tobago661:20,6662,393
Uganda611:639,98833,288
Bahrain591:22,8584,582
Spain591:792,40732,853
Lesotho531:38,3506,671
Japan521:2,458,54430,480
Israel511:167,79717,113
DR Congo481:1,539,15886,567
Aruba461:2,250326
Argentina411:1,042,52264,438
Sweden391:252,48117,476
Qatar371:63,7306,585
Russia351:4,117,802198,221
Cameroon341:610,85546,287
Pakistan341:5,254,23233,450
Brazil311:6,905,624162,221
Ukraine291:1,569,748122,792
Portugal281:372,08012,265
Netherlands271:625,45153,034
Uzbekistan271:1,145,52421,534
Georgia231:162,85010,905
Botswana221:99,40615,343
Algeria201:1,931,57843,603
Suriname191:29,0855,642
Papua New Guinea171:479,63060,627
Benin161:645,97538,126
Ireland151:313,92910,911
Switzerland151:547,52838,365
Zambia151:1,056,66130,252
Norway131:395,56035,657
Scotland131:411,83217,291
Mexico101:12,412,62043,480
Laos91:732,036508
Afghanistan71:4,593,31223,122
Venezuela71:4,314,86839,591
Finland61:916,11741,832
Chile51:3,523,29539,650
Honduras51:1,763,2885,823
Angola41:6,747,3046,999
Bangladesh41:39,839,19317,324
Belgium41:2,874,161111,046
Greece41:2,769,948101,568
Italy41:15,289,172132,955
Mozambique41:6,815,3924,272
South Sudan41:2,853,7691,758
Sri Lanka41:5,202,14012,146
Wales41:773,63329,106
Bolivia31:3,538,81111,393
Denmark31:1,881,57267,227
Solomon Islands31:193,34319,495
Austria21:4,257,71899,224
Colombia21:23,887,03632,612
Ecuador21:7,952,92334,269
Kazakhstan21:8,841,248174,813
Mauritius21:646,70813,517
Barbados11:287,4482,772
Belarus11:9,501,059159,228
Bhutan11:616,0391,715
Costa Rica11:4,780,06913,345
Dominican Republic11:10,432,93236,508
Gabon11:1,889,1946,814
Guam11:160,1214,893
Hungary11:9,816,27773,288
Iceland11:380,09011,096
Kyrgyzstan11:5,972,65499,197
Lebanon11:5,637,08332,436
Malawi11:17,119,10934,144
Maldives11:404,1727,269
Malta11:430,2723,380
Oman11:3,687,97114,390
Paraguay11:7,236,74616,511
Peru11:31,784,12364,452
Puerto Rico11:3,550,1399,109
Romania11:20,077,87089,414
Saudi Arabia11:30,855,81763,028
Swaziland11:1,298,1991,718
Tunisia11:610,62630,336
Turkey11:77,821,422191,047
Vanuatu11:263,2762,086
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
England11:24,375,369195,128
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States51:10,043,737422,899

The alternate forms: Chaï (9) & Chaî (1) are calculated separately.

Chai (136,836) may also be a first name.

Chai Surname Meaning

User-submitted Reference

Chai is a Chinese surname that derives from the name of the ancient Cai state. It is regionally more common in China's Fujian Province and in areas settled by ethnic Chinese from that province than in China as a whole. The surname is the 34th most common surname in China, but the 9th most common in Taiwan, where it is usually romanized as Tsai based on Wade-Giles romanization of Standard Mandarin and the 8th most common in Singapore, where it is usually romanized as Chua, which is based on Hokkien pronunciation. It is also a common Cantonese name in Hong Kong where it is romanized as Choy, Choi or Tsoi, in Macao and Malaysia, it's spelled as Choi, in Malaysia and the Philippines as Chua, in Thailand as Chuo (ฉั่ว). Moreover, it is also romanized in Cambodia as either Chhay, Chhuor or Chhor among Chinese Cambodians.

- thagman51

Chai Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name Chai Come From? nationality or country of origin

Chai (Bengali: চাই, Georgian: ჩაი, Hindi: चाई, Marathi: चै, Oriya: ଚଇ, Russian: Чаи, Tibetan: ཆའི་) is borne by more people in China than any other country/territory. It may also be rendered in the variant forms: Chaï or Chaî. For other possible spellings of this surname click here.

How Common Is The Last Name Chai? popularity and diffusion

It is the 529th most widely held surname on a global scale. It is borne by approximately 1 in 7,110 people. This last name occurs predominantly in Asia, where 98 percent of Chai live; 89 percent live in East Asia and 89 percent live in Sino-East Asia. Chai is also the 7,627th most widespread forename internationally, borne by 136,836 people.

Chai is most frequent in China, where it is held by 905,113 people, or 1 in 1,511. Outside of China this surname is found in 109 countries. It is also common in Malaysia, where 5 percent live and Singapore, where 2 percent live.

Chai Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The occurrence of Chai has changed over time. In The United States the number of people carrying the Chai surname expanded 92,680 percent between 1880 and 2014 and in England it expanded 39,600 percent between 1881 and 2014.

Chai Last Name Statistics demography

The religious devotion of those holding the Chai last name is predominantly Christian (83%) in Kenya.

In The United States Chai are 6.79% more likely to be registered Democrats than The US average, with 60.02% registered with the party.

The amount Chai earn in different countries varies greatly. In Norway they earn 12.02% more than the national average, earning 387,691 kr per year; in Peru they earn 43.23% less than the national average, earning S/. 11,005 per year; in South Africa they earn 32.17% less than the national average, earning R 161,196 per year; in Colombia they earn 247.2% more than the national average, earning $78,822,300 COP per year; in United States they earn 26.52% more than the national average, earning $54,590 USD per year and in Canada they earn 17.7% more than the national average, earning $58,476 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
Chaï929/
Chaî921/
Chaiy894,785/
Chaji893,102/
Chait892,873/
Chaia891,727/
Chaid891,641/
Chayi891,159/
Schai89354/
Tchai89332/
Chais89289/
Chaai89252/
Chaij89219/
Chaio89157/
Chaiu89136/
Chaip89126/
Chhai89107/
Chaie89107/
Chaih8943/
Chaiz8923/
Chaii8921/
Zchai891/
Dchai891/
Cai868,207,082/
Chi861,098,244/
Cha86936,167/
Hai86421,703/
Chaiyo809,472/
Chaiat801,095/
Chaich80472/
Chajii80375/
Chagia80348/
Chaiha80342/
Tchayi80179/
Chaiho80177/
Chaaij80170/
Chayyi80144/
Chaiet80141/
Chaiut80128/
Chaiit80103/
Chaiot8051/
Schaia8050/
Chajie8049/
Chahai8047/
Chaitt8044/
Chaiou8034/
Chaggi8024/
Chaiap8023/
Chayii8021/
Chaied8021/
Chayie8020/
Chahia8020/
Chagie8015/
Chawie8012/
Chhaji8011/
Chaiud8011/
Chhayi8010/
Chaiid809/
Tschai808/
Chaits808/
Chaiph808/
Chaiah807/
Chaipp807/
Chaiup807/
Chayid807/
Chaihe806/
Chaitz806/
Tchaia805/
Schaie805/
Chaies804/
Chaiez804/
Chaiss804/
Chaihi804/
Chaiau804/
Chaaia803/
Schaai802/
Chaiep802/
Chahio802/
Chaiaa802/
Tchaid802/
Chaieh802/
Shchai802/
Chaiee802/
Chaait801/
Chaaji801/
Chaids801/
Chaiux801/
Chajij801/
Chayhi801/
Chayit801/
Schaip801/
Chaius801/
Chaiie801/
Tchait801/
Chaias801/
Schaij801/
Schaio801/
Tchais801/
Tchaji801/
Cahaji801/
Chchai801/
Chagio801/
Chaish801/
Chaisz801/
Chaije801/
Chajiy801/
Chajio801/
Chhaia801/
Chaiaà801/
Thchai801/
Chaiad801/
Chahyi801/
Chaiod801/
Chaioo801/
Chaiyp801/
Haji751,628,620/
Choi75439,579/
Chau75303,716/
Chea75240,026/
Chae75136,520/
Chit7573,921/
Chay7562,567/
Chui7549,650/
Hait7538,391/
Shai7522,638/
Zhai7519,759/
Khai7519,106/
Haid7515,562/
Chis7510,820/
Chio7510,213/
Chaa759,140/
Chaj758,797/
Chah757,870/
Tcha756,605/
Chap756,445/
Chad756,413/
Chat756,138/
Caio754,823/
Caia754,356/
Chie753,212/
Hayi752,901/
Chih752,490/
Choa752,349/
Hais751,819/
Chas751,763/
Haie751,625/
Chiş751,419/
Chiș751,123/
Chip751,030/
Chij75927/
Chii75902/
Tchi75713/
Haai75680/
Caie75679/
Haia75564/
Haij75518/
Caji75508/
Chyi75455/
Chei75352/
Chaz75341/
Chiz75331/
Haiz75294/
Cuha75254/
Chiy75246/
Haii75235/
Ceha75194/
Haiu75189/
Haiy75172/
Haio75165/
Chaś75163/
Haiß75142/
Caai75136/
Hhai75131/
Scha75126/
Chha75120/
Haip75104/
Chid7586/
Caiu7582/
Chhi7577/
Xhai7561/
Chać7550/
Haić7543/
Schi7540/
Csai7540/
Hsai7537/
Haih7530/
Chaľ7512/
Chúa757/
Chsi756/
Chga755/
Xchi755/
Chci753/
Hjai753/
Chaà753/
Hchi753/
Chgi753/
Csha752/
Chéa752/
Zchi752/
Chìa752/
Dchi752/
Chza752/
Chsa751/
Zcha751/
Caió751/
Caiá751/
Chơi751/
Chaâ751/
Chač751/
Chxa751/
Czai751/
Hxai751/
Schaaij73235/
Chaihat73233/
Chaihou73201/
Chaihot73148/
Schaipp73111/
Chehaia7363/
Schaitz7359/
Chaiaya7341/
Schaitt7340/
Chaihad7336/
Chhaije739/
Chaujit738/
Chaggia737/
Chaieed737/
Chhajid736/
Chaihet736/
Chaheid734/
Schaiss734/
Chaiaup734/
Chaieez732/
Chahaji732/
Chaiech732/
Chaithp732/
Chaiaut732/
Chuhaia732/
Chaihaa731/
Chaugie731/
Tchaiah731/
Shchayi731/
Tchayid731/
Tchagie731/
Tchahai731/
Tchaiyi731/
Geechai731/
Cahahia731/
Chaaiou731/
Chhaihi731/
Chahiaz731/
Schaist731/
Chaggie731/
Chaihah731/
Chaihau731/
Chaihed731/
Chaihit731/
Chaihod731/
Chaihoh731/
Chhaiit731/
Ha671,653,060/
Ci67157,992/
Ca6787,668/
Cheah6737,120/
Hi6728,693/
Khaji6721,279/
Shaji6720,474/
Chaus6713,116/
Chaya6711,524/
Choji679,684/
Sahai679,613/
Shaia679,524/
Chhay678,837/
Chiya677,073/
Shaid676,387/
Haaji675,831/
Chaux675,531/
Choya675,425/
Chiyo674,341/
Khayi674,067/
Schau673,741/
Chawe673,675/
Shayi673,666/
Chach673,475/
Haist673,338/
Chaha673,276/
Chich673,222/
Chatt673,159/
Tchio673,095/
Tchaa672,899/
Shaio672,343/
Chuya671,770/
Schei671,734/
Haiat671,714/
Chadd671,670/
Haish671,669/
Chaud671,530/
Schio671,517/
Chija671,468/
Cheha671,400/
Hayyi671,374/
Tchea671,227/
Tchei671,126/
Chhih671,062/
Schie671,032/
Khaii67988/
Shaai67895/
Chipp67878/
Schaa67848/
Cheat67758/
Chhoa67752/
Chapp67739/
Chiyi67730/
Chieh67702/
Cheyi67652/
Chije67634/
Chaye67596/
Chish67593/
Hajij67586/
Chayo67574/
Chaja67550/
Tchaï67526/
Khaia67500/
Chijo67481/
Shait67466/
Chajo67450/
Haias67443/
Hagie67426/
Tchie67421/
Tchad67420/
Cheya67415/
Chiji67403/
Chaat67396/
Chahu67386/
Chaut67379/
Haidt67376/
Csuha67376/
Cheaz67371/
Haiss67363/
Chois67346/
Cheja67337/
Haies67329/
Choja67325/
Shaie67319/
Chuji67317/
Cheap67311/
Caihe67305/
Haggi67294/
Chash67294/
Zahai67283/
Chuit67280/
Schay67268/
Tscha67266/
Chiea67265/
Chuja67236/
Chass67227/
Czaia67226/
Haije67215/
Tchui67208/
Haiyi67206/
Cheas67206/
Hajih67201/
Hajiy67201/
Shaiu67191/
Chihe67176/
Cheia67173/
Schiz67169/
Cheij67164/
Chhea67163/
Chuyi67163/
Hajie67157/
Shais67153/
Chiss67152/
Shaih67145/
Chhit67144/
Chadh67143/
Chitt67135/
Chaju67134/
Haiah67133/
Chuiz67133/
Hawie67131/
Chayu67124/
Hayhi67124/
Choyi67123/
Schea67122/
Chhat67117/
Haich67109/
Haihe6799/
Cheis6796/
Cheio6794/
Chays6793/
Choij6793/
Chaay6792/
Chast6787/
Chadt6785/
Hajii6784/
Chauh6784/
Schui6780/
Cheae6778/
Khaiy6775/
Chiye6771/
Tchay6771/
Chist6770/
Cawie6769/
Choie6768/
Chișe6762/
Khaie6761/
Chajj6758/
Chauz6758/
Shaip6757/
Caihu6756/
Chayt6755/
Chaah6755/
Haitt6754/
Tshai6753/
Hayit6750/
Tchoi6748/
Hayih6748/
Chuis6747/
Haihu6746/
Hayis6745/
Hsaio6745/
Choit6745/
Xhaji6742/
Haisz6738/
Hsaid6737/
Hauia6737/
Cheua6736/
Haaij6735/
Ciaio6735/
Chhoi6734/
Schah6733/
Tschi6733/
Hahai6733/
Chead6732/
Shaiz6732/
Chats6731/
Chcha6730/
Choia6730/
Chads6729/
Haiaș6727/
Czaha6727/
Schid6726/
Cheid6726/
Cheit6725/
Chchi6724/
Chaad6723/
Haits6723/
Choio6723/
Shcha6723/
Tzhai6723/
Chioa6723/
Chaue6722/
Chuie6721/
Choid6720/
Chaas6720/
Chhap6720/
Cháňa6720/
Haiet6719/
Haiut6719/
Chuia6719/
Shaii6717/
Caiha6717/
Ciuha6716/
Haiou6716/
Chahy6716/
Schoi6716/
Shaij6715/
Shaić6715/
Cheji6714/
Haais6714/
Tchat6714/
Cheța6714/
Chayé6714/
Chuoa6713/
Chuih6713/
Chauy6712/
Csaji6712/
Chacz6712/
T'Cha6711/
Tchau6711/
Hayie6711/
Schaj6711/
Haiad6710/
Haiee6710/
Hai'a6710/
Tchii679/
Schoa679/
Schae679/
Chiia679/
Cieha679/
Chaaa679/
Choih678/
Chatp678/
Shaiy678/
Cehas678/
Chajt678/
Cheih678/
Chiey678/
Tchip678/
Tchap678/
Chhad677/
Hayid677/
Chisp677/
Chaje677/
Cheiu677/
Haiha677/
Hahia677/
Haios677/
Haiht677/
Chatd677/
Hahei677/
Cheșa677/
Ha'ai677/
Tchaihou677/
Khaio677/
Chhas676/
Chhip676/
Cuhyi676/
Haiis676/
Cajie676/
Hjaji676/
Khaij675/
Chizz675/
Chhui675/
Chazz675/
Cooha675/
Cshih675/
Schii675/
Chișș675/
Haied675/
Chioy675/
Chooa675/
Cheiz675/
Chayd675/
Dceha675/
Hahii674/
Cshaa674/
Chasp674/
Chhaa674/
Chaap674/
Hchad674/
Hașiu674/
Cheie674/
Chaït674/
Choiy674/
Haiaş674/
Shhai674/
Khaih674/
Haiau673/
Haids673/
Chidd673/
Chadz673/
Khaai673/
Chhau673/
Chauu673/
Chuip673/
Ciaia673/
Schij673/
Czchi673/
Chhha673/
Hahji673/
Ciaji673/
Chayz673/
Chiej673/
Cihea673/
Haiyt672/
Schiy672/
Zhaio672/
Cschi672/
Chhaz672/
Chhga672/
Chchhayi672/
Cahii672/
Cayha672/
Cheip672/
Chhei672/
Hayij672/
Hsaia672/
Cshah672/
Cohio672/
Chsio672/
Chuiy672/
Haiph672/
Schis672/
Cheea672/
Chisz672/
Tchid672/
Tchaî672/
Tchae672/
Chaïa672/
Chaïd672/
Chzea672/
Hjaij672/
Shgai672/
Haiid672/
Chaup672/
Chhah672/
Hajgi672/
Haiho672/
Haijh672/
Dzhai672/
Chaph672/
Zhaij671/
Choip671/
Choiz671/
Chaaz671/
Cehat671/
Cehya671/
Chhaj671/
Chhid671/
Jchaj671/
Hayii671/
Hađiu671/
Hchoi671/
Jhhai671/
Hssai671/
Htchi671/
Cshha671/
Chsha671/
Chssa671/
Ciaei671/
Czuha671/
Dchoi671/
Dcuha671/
Haieh671/
Haihi671/
Haiie671/
Haisj671/
Hahij671/
Hahiy671/
Zchau671/
Schaiová671/
Tchij671/
Stcha671/
Zhaia671/
Chaîd671/
Zchat671/
Chsoi671/
Cehia671/
Stchi671/
Ûchoa671/
Choii671/
Hâaji671/
Hsaji671/
Hayip671/
Hayiz671/
Hađji671/
Jschi671/
Zhaie671/
Schih671/
Tchih671/
Tcuha671/
Tchis671/
Tceha671/
Hajyi671/
Haiez671/
Haiiy671/
Haijj671/
Haiot671/
Caaha671/
Caaij671/
Caihé671/
Cahaj671/
Caița671/
Chüji671/
Ciaha671/
Chuid671/
Chuij671/
Cihio671/
Cihya671/
Chazt671/
Chchhait671/
Chajé671/
Ceyha671/
Cayie671/
Cseha671/
Chidt671/
Cheić671/
Chgay671/
Chayh671/
Hjayi671/
Cohiy671/
Cuiha671/
Shxai671/
Xchoi671/
Caioh671/
Cehha671/
Chyio671/
Chuio671/
Chsei671/
Chsui671/
Chihs671/
Csaha671/
Haidz671/
Hahiu671/
Haaie670/
Czaie670/
Haipp670/

Chai Name Transliterations

TransliterationICU LatinPercentage of Incidence
Chai in the Georgian language
ჩაიchai-
Chai in the Bengali language
চাইca'i-
Chai in the Marathi language
चैcai-
Chai in the Hindi language
चाईca'i75.44
चैcai7.02
चाीcai7.02
चाइca'i1.75
चईca'i1.75
चाैcaai1.75
Chai in the Tibetan language
ཆའི་ché66.67
ཆཱི་chi33.33
Chai in the Oriya language
ଚଇca'i64.52
ଚାଇca'i24.19
ଛାଇcha'i1.61
ଚଈca'i1.61
ଛଇcha'i1.61
ଚଇଁca'im1.61
ଚାଈca'i1.61
ଚାଇଁca'im1.61
Chai in the Russian language
Чаиcai-

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Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Chai
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis