Chen Surname
Approximately 74,775,602 people bear this surname
Chen Surname User-submission:
Chen is a Chinese surname with many variations as the languages and dialects in China changed and Chinese people immigrated. In ancient Chinese, it meant 'old'. Its Mandarin form 陳 means 'to explain'. Since Chen is the transliteration of many different surnames, its meaning varies depending on how it is written, and which dialect it is pronounced in.
Read More About This SurnameChen Surname Distribution Map
| Place | Incidence | Frequency | Rank in Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 71,489,433 | 1:19 | 5 |
| Taiwan | 2,573,491 | 1:9 | 1 |
| United States | 186,878 | 1:1,940 | 176 |
| Singapore | 96,527 | 1:57 | 4 |
| Thailand | 88,520 | 1:798 | 2 |
| Hong Kong | 60,847 | 1:121 | 32 |
| Malaysia | 37,482 | 1:787 | 102 |
| Canada | 32,881 | 1:1,121 | 72 |
| Guatemala | 28,161 | 1:571 | 102 |
| Laos | 25,420 | 1:259 | 94 |
| Spain | 23,652 | 1:1,977 | 233 |
| Australia | 20,367 | 1:1,325 | 136 |
| Cambodia | 10,049 | 1:1,541 | 360 |
| Myanmar | 9,914 | 1:5,239 | 209 |
| Macau | 7,432 | 1:81 | 17 |
| France | 6,624 | 1:10,028 | 962 |
| England | 6,340 | 1:8,788 | 1,274 |
| Japan | 4,019 | 1:31,810 | 3,052 |
| Madagascar | 3,880 | 1:6,095 | 1,238 |
| Brazil | 3,806 | 1:56,247 | 2,127 |
| Germany | 3,195 | 1:25,197 | 3,341 |
| Suriname | 2,774 | 1:199 | 2 |
| Indonesia | 2,663 | 1:49,662 | 5,575 |
| Panama | 2,507 | 1:1,561 | 255 |
| Russia | 2,272 | 1:63,434 | 8,212 |
| United Arab Emirates | 2,201 | 1:4,163 | 520 |
| Ecuador | 2,089 | 1:7,614 | 1,239 |
| Netherlands | 1,986 | 1:8,503 | 1,062 |
| Bangladesh | 1,983 | 1:80,361 | 3,747 |
| Jamaica | 1,970 | 1:1,457 | 247 |
| New Zealand | 1,910 | 1:2,371 | 324 |
| South Africa | 1,775 | 1:30,523 | 3,923 |
| Italy | 1,724 | 1:35,474 | 6,364 |
| Dominican Republic | 1,587 | 1:6,574 | 619 |
| Tonga | 1,576 | 1:68 | 9 |
| Nigeria | 1,529 | 1:115,855 | 7,675 |
| Sweden | 1,525 | 1:6,457 | 591 |
| Ethiopia | 1,288 | 1:75,735 | 7,282 |
| Vietnam | 1,239 | 1:74,775 | 628 |
| India | 1,224 | 1:626,687 | 29,872 |
| Austria | 1,167 | 1:7,297 | 923 |
| Philippines | 1,006 | 1:100,634 | 17,571 |
| Belize | 942 | 1:377 | 66 |
| Belgium | 836 | 1:13,752 | 2,078 |
| Samoa | 812 | 1:239 | 37 |
| Mexico | 739 | 1:167,965 | 4,935 |
| Ukraine | 732 | 1:62,189 | 8,969 |
| Kazakhstan | 665 | 1:26,590 | 3,724 |
| Uzbekistan | 664 | 1:46,580 | 5,994 |
| Greece | 640 | 1:17,312 | 2,432 |
| Denmark | 606 | 1:9,315 | 864 |
| Switzerland | 601 | 1:13,665 | 2,260 |
| Argentina | 552 | 1:77,434 | 6,566 |
| Venezuela | 530 | 1:56,989 | 2,685 |
| Portugal | 528 | 1:19,732 | 1,393 |
| Costa Rica | 487 | 1:9,815 | 497 |
| Chile | 466 | 1:37,804 | 1,901 |
| Brunei | 452 | 1:926 | 181 |
| Ireland | 435 | 1:10,825 | 1,382 |
| Vanuatu | 433 | 1:608 | 126 |
| Ghana | 416 | 1:64,954 | 6,785 |
| Morocco | 409 | 1:84,294 | 14,399 |
| Norway | 402 | 1:12,792 | 1,460 |
| Egypt | 397 | 1:231,576 | 16,276 |
| Scotland | 342 | 1:15,654 | 1,950 |
| Guam | 292 | 1:548 | 78 |
| Hungary | 292 | 1:33,617 | 3,662 |
| Sri Lanka | 292 | 1:71,262 | 7,441 |
| Finland | 291 | 1:18,889 | 2,691 |
| Mali | 258 | 1:65,771 | 1,556 |
| Saudi Arabia | 239 | 1:129,104 | 17,726 |
| Qatar | 231 | 1:10,208 | 1,127 |
| Malawi | 209 | 1:81,910 | 10,289 |
| Paraguay | 196 | 1:36,922 | 1,180 |
| Fiji | 189 | 1:4,732 | 899 |
| Luxembourg | 175 | 1:3,317 | 429 |
| Kuwait | 174 | 1:21,843 | 2,878 |
| Wales | 152 | 1:20,359 | 2,157 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 149 | 1:40,085 | 6,114 |
| Iran | 148 | 1:518,801 | 30,373 |
| South Korea | 137 | 1:374,016 | 227 |
| Slovenia | 133 | 1:18,704 | 4,273 |
| Bahrain | 132 | 1:10,217 | 1,962 |
| Peru | 126 | 1:252,255 | 10,351 |
| Northern Ireland | 113 | 1:16,328 | 2,170 |
| Belarus | 105 | 1:90,486 | 14,099 |
| French Polynesia | 104 | 1:2,700 | 546 |
| Swaziland | 101 | 1:12,853 | 583 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 95 | 1:14,358 | 1,844 |
| American Samoa | 94 | 1:593 | 41 |
| Pakistan | 66 | 1:2,706,726 | 22,920 |
| Honduras | 56 | 1:157,436 | 2,011 |
| Aruba | 55 | 1:1,881 | 275 |
| Romania | 54 | 1:371,812 | 31,284 |
| Estonia | 46 | 1:28,735 | 5,267 |
| Botswana | 44 | 1:49,703 | 9,263 |
| Poland | 39 | 1:974,583 | 70,126 |
| Mauritius | 37 | 1:34,957 | 6,870 |
| Angola | 36 | 1:749,700 | 2,649 |
| Sudan | 36 | 1:1,041,950 | 3,038 |
| Jordan | 32 | 1:276,326 | 10,740 |
| Mongolia | 32 | 1:88,290 | 6,105 |
| Curaçao | 28 | 1:5,616 | 151 |
| Czechia | 25 | 1:425,339 | 47,625 |
| Uganda | 23 | 1:1,697,360 | 58,907 |
| Israel | 22 | 1:388,983 | 31,283 |
| Iraq | 21 | 1:1,667,698 | 16,789 |
| New Caledonia | 21 | 1:13,153 | 3,514 |
| Cameroon | 20 | 1:1,038,453 | 65,513 |
| Croatia | 20 | 1:211,430 | 24,636 |
| Nicaragua | 20 | 1:301,054 | 3,003 |
| Northern Mariana Islands | 19 | 1:2,873 | 305 |
| Iceland | 15 | 1:25,339 | 1,935 |
| Bhutan | 14 | 1:44,003 | 608 |
| Cyprus | 14 | 1:63,205 | 6,078 |
| Guyana | 14 | 1:54,444 | 4,775 |
| Afghanistan | 13 | 1:2,473,322 | 16,278 |
| Colombia | 13 | 1:3,674,929 | 15,922 |
| Niger | 13 | 1:1,476,309 | 30,154 |
| Papua New Guinea | 13 | 1:627,209 | 74,307 |
| Slovakia | 13 | 1:410,496 | 52,415 |
| El Salvador | 12 | 1:528,657 | 3,007 |
| Liberia | 12 | 1:367,378 | 19,503 |
| Oman | 12 | 1:307,331 | 4,704 |
| Kenya | 11 | 1:4,198,173 | 41,178 |
| United States Virgin Islands | 11 | 1:10,034 | 1,440 |
| Uruguay | 11 | 1:311,978 | 20,848 |
| Bolivia | 10 | 1:1,061,643 | 4,908 |
| Chad | 9 | 1:1,510,244 | 5,402 |
| Gabon | 9 | 1:209,910 | 2,378 |
| Senegal | 9 | 1:1,619,927 | 4,107 |
| Tajikistan | 9 | 1:931,855 | 5,350 |
| Togo | 9 | 1:805,308 | 6,372 |
| Turkmenistan | 9 | 1:609,901 | 4,112 |
| Yemen | 9 | 1:2,936,144 | 15,216 |
| Puerto Rico | 8 | 1:443,767 | 3,219 |
| Bermuda | 7 | 1:9,326 | 1,286 |
| Burkina Faso | 7 | 1:2,621,729 | 17,588 |
| Benin | 6 | 1:1,722,600 | 61,769 |
| Cuba | 6 | 1:1,920,453 | 8,345 |
| Namibia | 6 | 1:401,567 | 10,578 |
| Algeria | 5 | 1:7,726,310 | 57,379 |
| Tanzania | 5 | 1:10,588,323 | 75,430 |
| Turkey | 5 | 1:15,564,284 | 149,633 |
| Bahamas | 4 | 1:97,938 | 1,027 |
| East Timor | 4 | 1:303,982 | 255 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 4 | 1:283,918 | 487 |
| Haiti | 4 | 1:2,670,977 | 16,453 |
| Lesotho | 4 | 1:508,140 | 18,568 |
| Libya | 4 | 1:1,560,994 | 3,087 |
| Lithuania | 4 | 1:758,647 | 25,175 |
| Mozambique | 4 | 1:6,815,392 | 4,272 |
| North Korea | 4 | 1:6,279,262 | 91 |
| Sierra Leone | 4 | 1:1,772,408 | 958 |
| Zambia | 4 | 1:3,962,480 | 38,524 |
| Isle of Man | 3 | 1:28,607 | 3,614 |
| Latvia | 3 | 1:683,349 | 34,074 |
| Lebanon | 3 | 1:1,879,028 | 22,073 |
| Marshall Islands | 3 | 1:17,274 | 1,698 |
| Nepal | 3 | 1:9,493,652 | 16,132 |
| Albania | 2 | 1:1,457,028 | 24,967 |
| Azerbaijan | 2 | 1:4,824,561 | 42,415 |
| Bulgaria | 2 | 1:3,489,452 | 64,958 |
| Cayman Islands | 2 | 1:31,946 | 1,715 |
| Congo | 2 | 1:2,494,548 | 28,763 |
| Cook Islands | 2 | 1:9,090 | 1,387 |
| Mauritania | 2 | 1:2,047,432 | 30,537 |
| Serbia | 2 | 1:3,572,474 | 32,645 |
| Anguilla | 1 | 1:13,436 | 792 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 1 | 1:99,171 | 2,137 |
| Armenia | 1 | 1:2,930,180 | 22,770 |
| Barbados | 1 | 1:287,448 | 2,772 |
| British Virgin Islands | 1 | 1:31,594 | 1,029 |
| Central African Republic | 1 | 1:4,515,390 | 1,196 |
| Comoros | 1 | 1:749,524 | 685 |
| Dominica | 1 | 1:75,891 | 912 |
| Falkland Islands | 1 | 1:3,132 | 317 |
| Gambia | 1 | 1:1,923,451 | 1,043 |
| Georgia | 1 | 1:3,745,545 | 47,852 |
| Guinea | 1 | 1:11,833,817 | 3,268 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 1 | 1:1,728,021 | 323 |
| Ivory Coast | 1 | 1:23,071,232 | 76,679 |
| Jersey | 1 | 1:99,202 | 6,620 |
| Maldives | 1 | 1:404,172 | 7,269 |
| Micronesia | 1 | 1:106,243 | 1,380 |
| Moldova | 1 | 1:3,561,368 | 78,271 |
| Montenegro | 1 | 1:639,565 | 9,092 |
| Nauru | 1 | 1:11,879 | 452 |
| Norfolk Island | 1 | 1:2,295 | 315 |
| Northern Cyprus | 1 | 1:319,011 | 10,202 |
| Rwanda | 1 | 1:11,364,978 | 5,947 |
| Saint Lucia | 1 | 1:178,781 | 3,800 |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 1 | 1:112,659 | 1,704 |
| Solomon Islands | 1 | 1:580,029 | 22,243 |
| Somalia | 1 | 1:13,452,061 | 9,224 |
| Syria | 1 | 1:19,301,022 | 22,457 |
| Tunisia | 1 | 1:610,626 | 30,336 |
| Zimbabwe | 1 | 1:15,438,240 | 133,260 |
| Place | Incidence | Frequency | Rank in Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 9 | 1:2,708,374 | 73,770 |
| Place | Incidence | Frequency | Rank in Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 115 | 1:436,684 | 31,761 |
The alternate forms: Chén (6) are calculated separately.
Chen (2,816,970) may also be a first name.
Chen Surname Meaning
User-submitted Reference
Chen is a Chinese surname with many variations as the languages and dialects in China changed and Chinese people immigrated. In ancient Chinese, it meant 'old'. Its Mandarin form 陳 means 'to explain'. Since Chen is the transliteration of many different surnames, its meaning varies depending on how it is written, and which dialect it is pronounced in.
It exists in Hokkien, Shanghainese, Hakka, Cantonese, and Mandarin.
- amaniguzelThis surname originated from the Chinese surname Chen.
However, when these people migrated out of China, to their respective countries, the immigration officers at those countries each had their own dialect. Therefore when Cantonese people said it, it became Chan, and when Teochew or Hokkien (Singapore) people said it, it became Chan. And respectively for all the other variations.
- tannThe Chen surname means 'exhibit', 'display', or 'plead'. Its origins are from the Chen Dynasty, which was the fourth and last of the Southern Dynasties in China.
In southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize, ch'en means 'sinkhole of water' in many Mayan languages.
- Forebears.io Manual SubmissionsMeaning: exhibit, display or plead. A surname of Chen dynasty.
- jahleoThe Chen surname means 'old'.
- brayinghorsesChen Demographics
Average Chen Salary in
United States
$50,466 USD
Per year
Average Salary in
United States
$43,149 USD
Per year
View the highest/lowest earning families in The United States
Chen Last Name Facts
Where Does The Last Name Chen Come From? nationality or country of origin
The surname Chen (Bengali: চেন, Hindi: चेन, Marathi: चेन, Oriya: େଚନ, Russian: Чен, Tibetan: བཙན་) occurs most in China. It may appear as: Chén. For other potential spellings of Chen click here.
How Common Is The Last Name Chen? popularity and diffusion
The last name Chen is the 4th most widespread family name throughout the world. It is borne by approximately 1 in 97 people. The last name Chen is primarily found in Asia, where 100 percent of Chen reside; 99 percent reside in East Asia and 99 percent reside in Sino-East Asia. Chen is also the 185th most commonly used first name in the world It is held by 2,816,970 people.
Chen is the most frequently held surname in one country:Taiwan, where 3 percent are found. It is most commonly used in China, where it is borne by 71,489,433 people, or 1 in 19. Without taking into account China it exists in 197 countries. It is also found in Taiwan, where 3 percent are found and The United States, where 0 percent are found.
Chen Family Population Trend historical fluctuation
The incidence of Chen has changed over time. In The United States the number of people who held the Chen last name expanded 162,503 percent between 1880 and 2014 and in England it expanded 70,444 percent between 1881 and 2014.
Chen Last Name Statistics demography
The religious adherence of those carrying the Chen surname is primarily Orthodox (60%) in Russia, Orthodox (100%) in Kazakhstan, Christian (100%) in Kenya, Christian (96%) in Nigeria and Christian (57%) in Ukraine.
In The United States those bearing the Chen surname are 10.03% more likely to be registered with the Democratic Party than the national average, with 63.26% registered with the party.
The amount Chen earn in different countries varies greatly. In Italy they earn 70.05% less than the national average, earning €8,995 per year; in Norway they earn 1.27% less than the national average, earning 341,675 kr per year; in Peru they earn 20.68% more than the national average, earning S/. 23,393 per year; in South Africa they earn 26.81% more than the national average, earning R 301,344 per year; in Colombia they earn 6.14% more than the national average, earning $24,097,200 COP per year; in Vietnam they earn 25.05% more than the national average, earning 103,091,000 ₫ per year; in United States they earn 16.96% more than the national average, earning $50,466 USD per year and in Canada they earn 12.96% more than the national average, earning $56,122 CAD per year.
Phonetically Similar Names
Chen Name Transliterations
| Transliteration | ICU Latin | Percentage of Incidence |
|---|---|---|
| Chen in the Marathi language | ||
| चेन | cena | - |
| Chen in the Hindi language | ||
| चेन | cena | 99.75 |
| चेेन | ceena | 0.1 |
| चॆन | cena | 0.05 |
| Chen in the Bengali language | ||
| চেন | cena | 89.47 |
| চেন্ | cen | 5.26 |
| ছেন্কন্যা | chenkan'ya | 5.26 |
| Chen in the Oriya language | ||
| େଚନ | ecana | 83.96 |
| େଚଣ | ecana | 8.49 |
| େଚନ୍ | ecan | 7.55 |
| Chen in the Tibetan language | ||
| བཙན་ | tsen | 73.68 |
| ཆེན། | chen | 7.89 |
| ཅན་ | chen | 5.26 |
| ཆེན་ | chen | 5.26 |
| བཅན་ | chen | 2.63 |
| སྤྱན་ | chen | 2.63 |
| ཅེན་ | chen | 2.63 |
| Chen in the Russian language | ||
| Чен | cen | - |
Search for Another Surname
Chen Reference & Research
Chaney-Cheney-Cheyne DNA Website - A web page dedicated to the genetic research of those who bear the surname and its variants.
Chen DNA Website - A web page dedicated to the genetic research of those who bear the surname and its variants.
Chaney-Cheney-Cheyne FamilyTree DNA Project - A description of a group researching the paternal lines of men who bear the surname with the help of DNA analysis.
Chen FamilyTree DNA Project - A description of a group researching the paternal lines of men who bear the surname with the help of DNA analysis.
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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 Chen
- To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on FamilySearch, MyHeritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis