Chen (surname)
Chen is a common East Asian surname. It is the most common surname in Taiwan and Singapore. Chen is also the most common family name in Guangdong, Zhejiang, Fujian, Macau, and Hong Kong. It is the most common surname in Xiamen, the ancestral hometown of many overseas Hoklo.
In Cantonese, it is usually romanized as Chan, most widely used by those from Hong Kong. Chan is also widely used in Macao and Malaysia. It is also sometimes spelled Chun. In many Southern Min dialects, the name is pronounced Tan, while in Teochew, it is pronounced Tang. In Hakka and Taishanese, the name is spelled Chin. In Wu it is pronounced Zen.
In Vietnam, this surname is written as Trần and is 2nd most popular. In Thailand, this surname is the most common surname of Thai Chinese and is often pronounced according to Teochew dialect as Tang. In Cambodia, this surname is transliterated as Taing. In Japanese, the surname is transliterated Chin. In Korean it is transliterated Jin.
Chen is 5th most common in mainland China, but 4th most common in the world due to Chen's larger overseas population. With all its various spellings and pronunciations, there are around 80-100 million people surnamed 陳 / 陈 worldwide.
Chen was listed 10th in the Hundred Family Surnames poem, in the verse 馮陳褚衛.
The surname Cheng is sometimes romanized as Chen. Another less common Chinese surname / can also be romanized as Chen.
Character
The Chinese character 陳 / 陈 means 'to describe' or 'ancient'. It is a combination of the radical 阝and the character 東 / 东 which means 'East'.History
Chen descends from the legendary sage king Emperor Shun from around 2200 BC via the surname Gui.A millennia after Emperor Shun, when King Wu of Zhou established the Zhou dynasty, he enfeoffed his son-in-law Gui Man, also known as Duke Hu of Chen or Chen Hugong. Chen Hugong, a descendant of Emperor Shun, found the State of Chen in modern Huaiyang County, Henan Province. In 479 BC, Chen was absorbed by Chu and became the Chu capital. The people of Chen adopted the name of their former state as their surname.
At the end of the Qin dynasty, Chen Sheng initiated the Chen Sheng Wu Guang Uprising that overthrew the Qin and paved the way for the Han dynasty, one of China's golden ages.
During the Northern and Southern Dynasties period, Chen Baxian established the Chen Dynasty, the fourth and the last of the Southern dynasties, which was eventually absorbed by the Sui Dynasty.
During this period, the nomadic Xianbei people had systematically assimilated into China's agrarian culture and adopted Han Chinese surnames under the state directives of Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei. The Xianbei subjects whose surname of "侯莫陳" were converted to "陳".
Some descendants of Chen migrated to Vietnam and established the Tran dynasty, a golden age in Vietnam. Their original home was Fujian, and they migrated under Trần Kinh. Trần Thái Tông became the founding emperor of the Tran dynasty, and his descendants would rule Vietnam for more than a century, expanding Vietnam's territory and promoting developments in language, chu nom, culture, and art. Certain members of the clan could still speak Chinese, like when a Yuan dynasty envoy had a meeting with the Chinese-speaking Tran Prince Trần Quốc Tuấn in 1282.
During the Yuan-Ming transition, Chen Youliang founded the Chen Han dynasty, which helped overthrow Yuan rule and pave the way for the Ming dynasty, another Chinese golden age.
In the 20th century, Chen Duxiu cofounded the Chinese Communist Party and became its first general secretary.
Distribution
Chen is the 5th most common surname in mainland China and 4th most common in the world.A 2013 study found that it was the 5th most common surname, shared by 61,300,000 people or 4.610% of the population, with the province with the most being Guangdong.
According to 2018 census, it was 5th most common mainland China there around 63 million, but is the 4th most common surname in the world with 80-100 million people. It is the most popular Chinese surname overseas.
In 2019 Chen was again the fifth most common surname in Mainland China. It is the most common surname in the southern provinces of Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong.
Other pronunciations and transliterations
- Chen, used in Mandarin
- Dan, used in Thailand
- Dunn, used in Taiwanese, Mingnamyu, Holo
- Chan, used in Cantonese in Hong Kong, Macao, Thailand and Malaysia
- Chin, used in Hakka in Singapore and Malaysia and Taishanese in America
- Gin, used in Taishanese
- Jin, used in Korean
- Tan, used in Teochew, Hokkien and Hainanese in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand
- Tang or Taing, used in Teochew, Cambodia and Thailand
- Ting or Ding, used in Fuzhou
- Trần, Sấn used in Vietnamese
- Zen, used in Shanghainese
- Sen, used as an alternative spelling in Limbu, Limbuwan
Notable people surnamed 陳
Historical figures
- Chen Baxian Founding Emperor of the Chen Dynasty
- Chen Biao General of Eastern Wu
- Chen Bozong Third Emperor of the Chen Dynasty
- Chen Cheng, diplomat
- Chen Dao General under Warlord Liu Bei later Shu Han
- Chen De'an, Zhiyi, founder of Tiantai school of Buddhism
- Chen Deng Politician in the late Han Dynasty
- Chen Di, Ming dynasty
- Chen Gong Advisor under warlord Lu Bu
- Chen Hugong, or Duke Hu of Chen, founded State of Chen
- Chen Hui / Chen Yi, Xuanzang, Tang dynasty Buddhist who traveled to India; Xuanzang is also the subject of Journey to the West
- Chen Jiongming, Chinese revolutionary
- Chen Li, Cantonese scholar of the evidential research school
- Chen Li, second and the last emperor of the Dahan regime in the late Yuan Dynasty of China
- Chen Lin, naval general of Ming Dynasty and Commander-in-chief of the Battle of Noryang, founder of Gwangdong Jin clan
- Chen Lin
- Chen Ping Minister and Chancellor of the Han dynasty
- Chen Qun Official of Cao Wei
- Chen Qian Second Emperor of the Chen Dynasty
- Chen Sheng, rebel leader of the Chen Sheng Wu Guang uprising during the Qin Dynasty
- Chen Shi General of Shu Han
- Chen Shou, Historian and Author in the Early Jin Dynasty, wrote Records of the Three Kingdoms
- Chen Shubao Fifth and Last Emperor of the Chen Dynasty
- Chen Shuda Official of the Sui Dynasty and Chancellor of the Tang Dynasty
- Chen Tai Official and General of Cao Wei
- Chen Tang general of the Western Han Dynasty
- Chen Wenlong, general of Song dynasty
- Chen Wu General under warlord Sun Quan
- Chen Yan, Tang dynasty governor
- Chen Yuanyuan, concubine of Wu Sangui
- Chen Xu Fourth Emperor of the Chen Dynasty
- Chen Youliang, emperor of Chen Han
- Chen Zi'ang
- Chen Zhen Minister of Shu Han
- Cao Zhi, self-proclaimed King Chen
- Tan Ting-pho, Taiwan oil painter
- Trần Hưng Đạo, an imperial prince, statesman and military commander of Đại Việt military forces during the Trần Dynasty.
- Trần Thái Tông, emperor of Tran Dynasty
- Rulers of the Chen Dynasty
- Rulers of the Trần Dynasty
- Rulers of Chen, where Daoism originated
- Rulers of Chen Han
Modern figures
- Agnes Chan, Hong Kong singer
- Alexandre Chan, Brazilian architect
- Alon Chen, Israeli neuroscientist; 11th President of the Weizmann Institute of Science
- Andrew Chan, Australian criminal executed by Indonesia; a member of Bali 9 and was executed in April 2015
- Charles and Lee-Lee Chan, parents of Jackie Chan
- Daniel Chan, Hong Kong singer, songwriter and actor
- Danny Chan, Hong Kong actor, singer and composer
- Eason Chan, Hong Kong actor and singer
- Francis Chan, American preacher
- Frankie Chan, Chinese martial arts actor, director, producer and composer
- Chen Fushou, Indonesian badminton gold medalist
- Chen Yi Ning, Chinese actress based in Hong Kong
- Jackie Chan, Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, film director, producer, martial artist
- Jason Chan
- Jason Keng-Kwin Chan, Malaysian-Australian actor
- Jaycee Chan, American-born Hong Kong actor and singer, son of Jackie Chan
- Johnny Chan, Chinese-born American professional poker player
- Jordan Chan, Hong Kong actor and singer
- Kim Chan, American actor
- Leighton Chan, physician and researcher
- Margaret Chan, Director of World Health Organization
- Monica Chan, Hong Kong actress and winner of Miss Hong Kong 1989
- Moses Chan, Hong Kong actor and model
- Patrick Chan, Canadian figure skater
- Priscilla Chan , philanthropist and wife of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg
- Priscilla Chan , Hong Kong singer
- Ruco Chan, Hong Kong actor and Singer
- Chan Siu Wing, Hong Kong basketball player
- T.H. Chan, Hong Kong billionaire, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health named after him, sons Gerald Chan and Ronnie Chan
- Vincy Chan, Cantopop singer from Hong Kong
- William Chan, Hong Kong singer
- Wing-tsit Chan, Chinese scholar
- Yau-Man Chan, Malaysian-American table tennis player, technology executive and reality TV contestant
- José Antonio Chang, former Prime Minister of Peru
- Anthony Chen, Physics Professor Emeritus, Nobel Prize recipient 2007 as part of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
- Apollo Chen, Taiwanese legislator
- Arthur Y. Chen, Minister of Public Construction Commission of the Republic of China
- Bruce Chen, Panamanian Major League Baseball player
- Cheer Chen, Taiwanese singer and songwriter
- Chen Changwen, Chinese politician and lawyer
- Chen Cheng, Chinese politician and general, Vice President and Premier of the Republic of China
- Chen Chi-chung, acting Minister of Council of Agriculture of the Republic of China
- Chen Chien-jen, Vice President of the Republic of China
- Chen In-chin, Chairperson of Central Election Commission of the Republic of China
- Chen Show Mao, Rhodes Scholar and Singaporean politician
- Chen Chih-ching, Minister of Council of Agriculture of the Republic of China
- Chih-Ping Chen, diplomat for the Republic of China
- Chen Chin-jun, Governor of Fujian Province
- Christine Chen, American journalist, news anchor and CEO of Chen Communications
- Chen Chung-shin, General Secretary of the Boy Scouts of China
- Chen Danian, Chinese Internet entrepreneur
- Chen Deming, leader
- Chen Ding, racewalker, 2012 Olympic champion
- Tran Duc Luong, Vietnam President from 1997 to 2006
- Chen Duxiu, co-founder of the Communist Party of China and its first General Secretary
- Edison Chen, Canadian-born Hong Kong singer
- Edward Chen, Hong Kong economist and politician
- Fala Chen, Hong Kong-born American actress and singer
- Chen Fu-hai, Magistrate of Kinmen County
- Chen Gang
- Chen Guangbiao, entrepreneur and philanthropist
- Chen Guangcheng, Chinese civil rights activist
- Chen Guangfu, banker
- H. T. Chen, American dancer and choreographer
- Chen He, actor
- Chen Hong , Chinese former badminton player
- Chen Hsiung-wen, Minister of Labor of the Republic of China
- Chen Hsueh-sheng, Magistrate of Lienchiang County
- Chen Hualan, Chinese virologist
- Jenova Chen, director of Journey
- Jiebing Chen, Chinese musician who plays the erhu
- Chen Jin, former world men's singles champion in badminton
- Jin Chen, a chef killed along with his wife and two sons in a suburb of Albany, New York
- Chen Jingrun, Chinese mathematician, known for Chen prime and Chen's theorem
- Jirayu Tangsrisuk, Thai actor, singer and model
- Joan Chen, Chinese-American actress and film director
- Joseph Zen, Chinese Roman Catholic cardinal and former Bishop of Hong Kong
- Joyce Chen , Chinese-American chef, author and television personality
- Chen Jinn-lih, Vice President of Control Yuan
- Chen Jintao, economist, founder of Bank of China
- Jiun-Shyan Chen, American engineering professor at University of California, San Diego
- Julie Chen, American television personality, news anchor and producer
- Chen Kaige, Chinese film director
- Kanok Ratwongsakul, Thai journalist and anchorman
- Karen Chen, American figure skater
- Kawee Tanjararak, Thai singer and actor
- Kelly Chen, Hong Kong actress and singer
- Chen Kenichi, Japanese chef on the syndicated TV program Iron Chef
- Chen Kenmin, father of Chen Kenichi, and a prominent Chinese chef in Japan
- Chen Kuang-fu, Magistrate of Penghu County
- Chen Lifu, Chinese politician, Minister of Education of the Republic of China
- Chen Linong, Taiwanese singer and actor, former member of Nine Percent
- Chen Liping, Singaporean actress
- Chen Lu, Chinese figure skater
- Mei-Ann Chen, American orchestra conductor and musician
- Chen Mengjia, Chinese scholar and archaeologist
- Napa Kiatwanchai, Thai professional boxer
- Nathan Chen, American figure skater
- Peter P. Chen, computer scientist, inventor of the Entity-Relationship Model
- Chen Qingping
- Robert Chen, violinist and Concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
- Roger H. Chen, Taiwanese-born American businessman, founder of the 99 Ranch Market supermarket chain
- Chen Rui, internet entrepreneur, billionaire, and CEO of Bilibili
- Chen Shaoguo, Chinese former racewalker
- Chen Hongyu, Shaun Chen, Malaysian actor in Singapore
- Shane Chen, inventor
- Chen Shi-Zheng, Chinese-born American theater director
- Shiing-Shen Chern, Chinese-American mathematician, known for Chern–Gauss–Bonnet theorem, Chern class, Chern–Simons theory, etc.
- Chen Shui-bian, President of the Republic of China
- Chen Shui-tsai, Magistrate of Kinmen County
- Sisy Chen, Taiwanese politician and television commentator
- Chen Sicheng, director
- Chen Shyh-kwei, Governor of Fujian Province
- Steve Chen, co-founder of YouTube
- Steve Chen , supercomputer designer and entrepreneur
- Surachai Danwattananusorn, Thai political activist
- Jin Sun-Yu, South Korean short-track speed skater
- Terry Chen, Canadian actor
- Chen Tianwen, Singaporean actor
- Trần Độ, lieutenant general of the People's Army of Vietnam and political reformer
- Chen Tze-chung, Taiwanese professional golfer also known as T. C. Chen
- Chen Wei
- Chen Wei , Chinese dissident and human rights activist
- Wei-Yin Chen, Major League Baseball pitcher from Taiwan
- Chen Wei-zen, Deputy Mayor of Taipei City
- Chen Xiao, actor and model
- Chen Xiaohong, economist
- Chen Xiaoxu, Chinese actress
- Chen Yi , Chinese communist military commander and politician, Mayor of Shanghai and Foreign Minister
- Chen Yi , Chinese violinist and composer
- Chen Yi , Chief Executive of Taiwan Province
- Chen Yinke, historian
- Chen Yonglin, Chinese communist diplomat who defected to Australia in 2005
- Chen Yu , Chinese badminton player
- Chen Yuan
- Chen Yuan, economist
- Chen Yuh-chang, Deputy Mayor of Taipei City
- Chen Yun, politician, in the 1980s and 1990s considered 2nd most powerful leader after Deng Xiaoping
- Chen Zhi, Chinese guitar teacher and promoter
- Chen Zhu, Chinese hematologist, molecular biologist, and politician, former Minister of Health
- Arthur Chin, Chinese-American fighter ace in the Second Sino-Japanese War, recognized as the United States' first ace in World War II
- Ming Chin, Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
- Chin Peng, longtime leader of the Malayan Communist Party
- Chin Sophonpanich, Thai entrepreneur who founded Bangkok Bank
- Chatri Sophonpanich, Thai businessman, son of Chin Sophonpanich
- Chartsiri Sophonpanich, Thai banker, son of Chatri Sophonpanich, grandson of Chin Sophonpanich
- Vincent "Randy" Chin, Jamaican record producer and label owner, founder of VP Records
- Anthony Tan, CEO of Grab
- Desmond Tan, Chen Jiongjiang 陳泂江, Singaporean actor
- Julie Tan, Chen Xinqi 陈欣淇 , Malaysian born Singaporean actress and model.
- Lucio Tan , Filipino-Chinese businessman and owner of Philippine Airlines
- Michael Tan, a Chinese Filipino medical anthropologist and the 10th Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Diliman
- Romeo Tan, Chen Luomiou 陈罗密欧, Singaporean actor
- Sandi Tan, Singaporean filmmaker and critic
- Tan Boon Teik , former Attorney-General of Singapore
- Tan Cheng Bock , Singaporean politician and doctor
- Tan Cheng Lock, founder of the Malayan Chinese Association and an important figure during the independence of Malaya
- Tan Kah Kee , Chinese businessman, community leader and philanthropist in colonial Singapore and China
- Tan Khoen Swie, Indonesian publisher
- Tan Siew Sin, a Malaysian politician
- Tony Tan , seventh President of Singapore
- Tony Tan-Caktiong, a Chinese Filipino businessman
- Trần Văn Trà, North Vietnam commander, helped win war
Other
- Chen-style taijiquan
Fictional
- Charlie Chan, a fictional detective
- Chen, a character in the British science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf
- Chan Ho-nam, the fictitious Hong Kong triad boss in the Young and Dangerous film series
- Chen Jialuo, protagonist of the Wuxia novel The Book and the Sword
- Detective Grace Chen, a central character in Martial Law
- Chen, the Holy Knight, a character in the ' custom map Defense of the Ancients
- Chen Stormstout, an important character in the , as well as playable hero in ' and Heroes of the Storm
- Chen Zhen, a fictional Chinese martial artist and culture hero
- Jing-Mei Chen, a Chinese-American physician in the television drama series ER
- The Untamed