Chen was listed 10th in the Hundred Family Surnames poem, in the verse 馮陳褚衛 (Feng Chen Chu Wei).
In Cantonese, it is usually romanized as Chan (as in Jackie Chan), most widely used by those from Hong Kong, and also found in Macau and Singapore. It is also sometimes spelled Chun. The spelling Tan usually comes from Southern Min dialects (e.g. Hokkien), while some Teochew dialect speakers use the spelling Tang. In Hakka and Taishanese, the name is spelled Chin. Spellings based on Wu include Zen and Tchen. There are many spellings based on its Hainanese pronunciations, including Dan, Seng, and Sin.[4][5]
In Vietnam, this surname is written as Trần (in Quốc Ngữ) and is 2nd most common. 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 (ちん). In Korean it is transliterated Jin or Chin (진).
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.[7]
The surname Cheng (程) is sometimes romanized as Chen (e.g. John S. Chen). Another less common Chinese surname諶 / 谌 (Shen) can also be romanized as Chen.[8]
Character
The Chinese character 陳 / 陈 means 'to describe' (陈述) or 'ancient'. It is a combination of the radical 阝and the character 東 / 东 which means 'East'.
Chen descends from the legendary sage king Emperor Shun from around 2200 BC via the surname Gui (媯).[9][10]
A millennia after Emperor Shun, when King Wu of Zhou established the Zhou dynasty (c. 1046 BC), he enfeoffed his son-in-law Gui Man, also known as Duke Hu of Chen or Chen Hugong (陈胡公). Chen Hugong, a descendant of Emperor Shun, found the State of Chen in modern Huaiyang County, Henan Province.[9][10] 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.[9][10]
During this period, the nomadicXianbei 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" (Hóumòchén) were converted to "陳" (Chen).[16]
Some descendants of Chen migrated to Vietnam (Dai Viet) and established the Trần dynasty, a golden age in Vietnam. Their original home was Fujian, and they migrated under Trần Kinh (陳京 Chén Jīng). Trần Thái Tông (陈太宗 Chen Taizong) 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.[17][18][19][20][21][22][23]
In the 20th century, Chen Duxiu cofounded the Chinese Communist Party and became its first general secretary, but was eventually expelled from the party and condemned by Mao due to advocating Trotskyism.[25]
Distribution
Chen is the 5th most common surname in mainland China (around 70 million) and 4th most common in the world (around 80–100 million, including all its variants like Chan, Tan, Tran).
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.[26]
According to 2018 census, it was 5th most common in mainland China at around 63 million, but 4th most common surname in the world with 80–100 million people. It is the most common Chinese surname overseas.[7]
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.[27]
Hong Kong has around 700,000 using the spelling "Chan" and 61,000 using the spelling "Chen", so in total around 700,000–800,000 Chen (陈), which ranks first in Hong Kong.
In Thailand, last names are more unique therefore the Chinese last name Chen ranks 2nd with 88,000 and with an incidence of 1 to 900.
There are 187,000 Chens in the US, as of 2014. It is the 30th most common last name in California where there are 70,000. 11,300 in Texas, 6,800 Illinois, 5,900 Maryland. New Jersey was undercounted with data missing; New York had 5,400.
In Canada there are 32,900 Chens; 16,600 Ontario and 11,000 British Columbia.[28]
Chen is usually one of the top 5 common Asian last names and top 3 most common Chinese in the US.
Other pronunciations and transliteration
Chen family ancestral temple, in Xiazai Village, Cangnan County, Zhejiang
Chen Hui / Chen Yi (陳禕; 602–664), also known as Master Xuanzang (玄奘法師), Buddhist monk, scholar, traveller, and translator, known for his epoch-making contributions to Chinese Buddhism and the travelogue of his journey to India during the Tang dynasty period
Chen Wangting (陳王庭;1580–1660), commander of the Wen County garrison during the late Ming dynasty, who founded Chen-style tai chi
Chen Weisong (陳维崧; 1626–1682), first of the great Ci and Pianwen poets during the Qing dynasty, leader and founder of the Yangxian poetry school
Chen Wenlong (陳文龍; 1232–1277), scholarly general during the final years of the Southern Song dynasty, was later deified as City God of Fuzhou and Putian during the Ming dynasty
Chen Wu (陳武), military general who served under the warlord Sun Ce and Sun Quan during the late Eastern Han dynasty
Chen Xu (陳頊), Emperor Xuan of Chen (陳宣帝), fourth emperor of the Chen dynasty
Chen Zhaoyin (陳昭應; 1047–1101), also known as Master Qingshui (清水祖師), Chan Buddhist monk during the Northern Song from Anxi County of Quanzhou and was worshipped as a deity in Southern Fujian region and among Chinese diaspora communities
Chen Zi'ang (陳子昂), prominent poet and important advisor to the Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang dynasty, well known for his collection of thirty-eight poems "Ganyu" (感遇)
Chen Zhen (陳震), Minister of the Guards (衛尉) in Shu Han during Three Kingdoms period
Chen Zheng (陳政; 616–677), military general of the Tang dynasty
Trần Quốc Tuấn (陳國峻; 1228–1300), royal prince, statesman and military commander during the Trần dynasty, managed to repelled two major Mongol invasions in the late 13th century, worshipped and revered as national hero
Trần Thừa (陳承; 1184–1234), head of the Trần clan and high-ranking mandarin during the Lý dynasty
Trần Thủ Độ (陳守度; 1194–1264), Grand Chancellor and Regent of the Emperor during the Trần dynasty
Dynasties and states
Rulers of Chen (state) during the Zhou dynasty period (陳國), where Taoism originated
Rulers of the Chen dynasty during the Northern and Southern dynasties period (陳朝)
Rulers of Chen Han during the late Yuan dynasty period (陳漢)
Rulers of the Trần dynasty that ruled over Đại Việt (also known as 陳朝)
Kelly Chan Kum Seng (陳金星; 1956–1998), Singaporean windsurfer, ranked number one in Raceboard Lightweight class by International Boardsailing Association in 1992
Kim Chan (陳錦湘; 1917–2008), Chinese-American actor and producer
Chen Chi-ting (陳紀廷; born 1999), Taiwanese badminton player
Christine Chen (born 1968), American journalist, news anchor and CEO of Chen Communications
Chen Chung-shin (陳忠信), General Secretary of the Boy Scouts of China and was awarded the 157th Bronze Wolf, the only distinction of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, awarded by the World Scout Committee for exceptional services to world Scouting.
Chen Fake (陳發科; 1887–1957), prominent martial artist of Chen-style tai chi
Fala Chen (陳法拉; born 1982), Hong Kong-born American actress and singer
Chen Fu-hai (陳福海; born 1963), Magistrate of Kinmen County, Taiwan (2014–2018)
Chen Fushou (陳福壽; 1932–2020), Indonesian badminton gold medalist, later became the head coach of the China national women's badminton team, which won 25 team or individual world championships under his leadership
Chen Mingren (陳明仁; 1903–1974), First Corps Commander and the provincial chairman of the Hunan Provincial Government during ROC period, later become one of the founding member of PLA during PRC period
Napa Kiatwanchai (born 1967), Thai professional boxer (born as Suwit Sae-tang)
Nathan Chen (陳巍; born 1999), American figure skater, 2022 Olympic champion and gold medalist
Chen Pehong (陳丕宏; born 1957), Taiwanese-American businessman, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of BroadVision
Peter Chen Pin-Shan (陳品山; born 1947), computer scientist, inventor of the Entity-Relationship Model
Chen Sicheng (陳思誠; born 1978), actor, director and screenwriter, is known for his leading roles in the films A Young Prisoner's Revenge and Spring Fever
Chen Sisi (陳思思; 1938–2007), born Chen Limei (陳麗梅), Chinese film and theater actress
Steven Shih Chen (陳士駿; born 1978), Taiwanese-American Internet entrepreneur and co-founder of YouTube
Steve Chen (陳世卿; born 1944), Taiwanese supercomputer designer and entrepreneur
Chen Tze-chung (born 1958), Taiwanese professional golfer also known as T. C. Chen
Chen Wei, Epidemiologist and virologist specializing in biodefense
Chen Wei (born 1969), PRC dissident and human rights activist
Chen Wei-Yin (born 1985), Taiwanese professional baseball pitcher
Chen Wei-zen (born 1953), Minister of the Interior in Taiwan (2014–2016)
Chen Wen Hsi (陳文希; 1906–1991), Singaporean artist, known for his avant-garde Chinese paintings
Chen Wen-hsien (born 1958), Taiwanese politician and television commentator
Chen Xiang (born 1990), Chinese business executive and chef
Chen Xiangming, sociologist, founding dean and director of urban and global studies and director of the Center for Urban and Global Studies at Trinity College in Hartford
Chen Yi (1901–1972), Chinese communist military commander and politician, Mayor of Shanghai and Foreign Minister
Chen Yi (陳怡; born 1953), Chinese-American violinist and composer of contemporary classical music
Chen Yinke (陳寅恪; 1890–1969), historian and fellow of Academia Sinica, considered one of the most original and creative historians in 20th century China
Chen Yonglin, former PRC diplomat who defected to Australia in 2005
Tan Chin Tuan (陳振傳; 1908–2005) Singaporean Peranakan banker and philanthropist
Tan Chorh Chuan (陳祝全), Singaporean college administrator and professor, President of the National University of Singapore (2008–2017) and director of medical devices in Ministry of Health (2000–2004)
Tan Chor Jin (陳楚仁; 1966–2009), Singaporean gang lord and murderer
Tan Chong Tee (陳崇智; 1916–2012), Chinese resistance fighter based in Singapore and Malaya during World War II
Tan Hiok Nee (陳旭年; 1827–1902), Major China of Johor and leader of Ngee Heng Kongsi
Tan Hoan Liong (陳香良; 1938–2009), Indonesian–Dutch chess player, the first Indonesian and one of the first Asian chess players to hold the International Master title
Tan Hock Eng (陳福陽; born 1952), Malaysian business executive, philanthropist and the CEO of Broadcom Inc.
Tan Howe Liang (陳浩亮; born 1933), Singaporean weightlifter and also the first Singaporean to win an Olympic medal
Tan Jiak Kim (陳若錦; 1859–1917), Singapore Peranakan merchant, political activist, philanthropist and co-founder of the Straits Chinese British Association, was awarded the Order of St Michael and St George in 1912
Tan Jee Say (陈如斯; born 1954), Singaporean politician and former civil servant
Tan Joe Hok (陳有福; born 1937), Indonesian badminton player
Tan Keong Saik (陳恭錫; 1850–1909), Singaporean businessman who contributed in setting up Chinese Chamber of Commerce and advocate of education and equality of rights for women
Tan Kheng Ann (陈庆安; 1941–1965), Singaporean gang member and murderer
Tan Khoen Swie (陳坤瑞; 1883/1894–1953), Indonesian publisher
Tan Kian Meng (陳健銘; born 1994), Malaysian badminton player who specializes in doubles events
Tan Kiat How (陳傑豪; born 1977), Singaporean politician, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Communications and Information
Tan Kim Ching (陳金鐘; 1829–1892), served as Kapitan China of the Chinese community, was also the consul for Japan, Siam and Russia, and was a member of the Royal Court of Siam
Tan Kim Seng (陳金聲; 1805–1864), Chinese community leader (Hokkien) and first magistrate of Chinese descent in Singapore
Tan Kin Lian (陈钦亮; born 1948), Singaporean businessman
Tan Lian Hoe (陳蓮花; born 1958), former Malaysia's Member of Parliament
Tan Liong Houw, Indonesian football player, participated in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne
Tan Lip-Bu (陳立武; born 1959), Malaysian-born American executive and entrepreneur, executive chairman of Cadence Design Systems and Chairman of Walden International
Tan Min Liang (陳民亮; born 1977), Singaporean businessman and internet entrepreneur, the co-founder, CEO and creative director of Razer Inc., the CEO of THX
Tan Mo Heng, Indonesian football goalkeeper, played in the 1938 FIFA World Cup
Tan Mui Choo (陈梅珠; 1953/1954–1988), Singaporean child killer
Tan Ping Koon (陈平坤; born 1968), Singaporean kidnapper
Tan Pin Pin (陳彬彬; born 1969), Singapore-based film director
Tan See Han, Indonesian football players, played in the 1938 FIFA World Cup
Tan Seng Giaw (陳勝堯; born 1942), former Malaysian Member of Parliament
Tan Sheng Hui Alvin (陳聖辉; born 1980), Singaporean politician, Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, and Trade and Industry since 2020
Tan Siew Sin (陳修信; 1916–1988), Malaysian longest-serving Minister of Finance and son of Tun Dato' Sir Tan Cheng Lock
Tan Soo Khoon (陳樹群; 1949–2016), Singaporean former politician, Speaker of the Parliament (1989–2001)
Tan Soon Neo Jessica (陳舜娘; born 1966), Singaporean politician, Deputy Speaker of Parliament since 2020
Tan Swie Hian (陳瑞獻; born 1943), Singaporean multidisciplinary artist known for his contemporary Chinese calligraphy, Chinese poetry and contemporary art sculptures
Tan Teng Chuan Steven (born 1970), Singaporean footballer for Singapore national team during the 1990s
Tan Tee Beng (陳智銘; born 1972), former Malaysian Member of Parliament
Tan Teng-pho (陳澄波; 1895–1947), Prominent Taiwanese oil painter, whose work was featured in the seventh Imperial Art Exhibition in Japan
Tan Tjin Kie (1853–1919), Majoor-titulair der Chinezen, high-ranking bureaucrat, courtier, sugar baron, also the founder and patron of the Confucian revival and Tiong Hoa Hwee Koan in Cirebon
Tan Tjoei Hock (1908–1984), Indonesian journalist and filmmaker
Tan Tjoen Tiat (陳濬哲; 1816–1880), second Majoor der Chinezen ("Major of the Chinese") of Batavia (1865-1879)
Tan Twan Eng (陳團英), Malaysian novelist who won the Man Asian Literary Prize and Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction
Tan Wee Kiong (陳煒強; born 1989), Malaysian badminton player who won the gold medal in the men's doubles and the mixed team event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Tan Wee Tat (born 1992), Malaysian badminton player
Tan Wee Gieen (born 1994), Malaysian badminton player
Tan Wu Meng (陳有明; born 1975), Singaporean politician and oncologist
Tan Yee Khan (陳貽權; born 1940), former Malaysian badminton player who won the All-England Open men's doubles championship in 1965 and 1966
Tan Yueh Ming (1945–2010), also known as Hadi Soesastro, Indonesian economist, political scientist (international relations), founder and former executive director of Centre for Strategic and International Studies (Indonesia)
Tin Pei Ling (陳佩玲; born 1983), Singaporean politician and businesswoman
Harmony Tan (born 1997), French professional tennis player
Other
Chen Fu Zhen Ren (陳府真人), ancestral deity of Indonesian Chinese residing throughout Banyuwangi Regency, Java, Bali, and Lombok, also worshipped by Balinese and Javanese (Kejawen).
Chen Jinggu (陳靖姑), Taoist deity and protective goddess of women, children, and pregnancy, also known as Lady Linshui (臨水夫人). She is worshipped in Fujian, Taiwan, South China, and across East Asia and Southeast Asia.
Chen-style tai chi, Northern Chinese martial art and the original form of tai chi.
Tran (surname), second most common Vietnamese surname, the Vietnamese spelling of 陳
This page lists people with the surnameChen. If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.
