Chen ([ʈʂʰə̌n]) (simplified Chinese: 陈; traditional Chinese: 陳; pinyin: Chén; Wade–Giles: Ch'en) is one of the most common East Asian surnames of Chinese origin. It ranks as the 5th most common surname in China as of 2007 and the most common surname in Singapore (2000) and Taiwan (2010). Chen is also the most common family name in Guangdong, Zhejiang, Fujian, Hong Kong (spelt Chan in Hong Kong and Macau). It is the most common surname in Xiamen, the ancestral hometown of many overseas Hoklo. Besides 陳/陈, an uncommon Chinese surname 諶/谌 is also romanized as Chen.
It is usually romanised as Chan in Cantonese, most widely used by those from Hong Kong, and sometimes as Chun. The spelling, Chan, is widely used in Macao and Malaysia. In Min (including dialects of Chaoshan (Teochew), Hainan, Fujian, and Taiwan), the name is pronounced Tan. In Hakka and Taishanese, the name is spelled Gin. Some other Romanisations include Zen (from Wu), Ding (from Gan) and Chern. Chen can be variously spelt as Tan, Chan or Chin in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries. Chen is commonly spelled Chang in Peru.
The Korean surname 진 (Jin) is the Korean pronunciation of the same character. In Japanese, the surname is transliterated Chin.
In Vietnam, this surname is written in Quốc Ngữ as Trần and it is the second most common surname.
Chen was derived from Gui (媯), the surname of the descendants of the legendary sage king Emperor Shun. When King Wu of Zhou established the Zhou dynasty in 1046/45 BC, he enfeoffed his son-in-law Gui Man (Duke Hu of Chen). Gui Man was said to be a descendant of Emperor Shun, at the State of Chen, in modern Huaiyang County, Henan Province. Chen was conquered by Chu in 479 BC, and the people of Chen adopted the name of their former state as their surname.
During the Northern and Southern Dynasties period (420-589), Chen Baxian established the Chen Dynasty (557-589), the fourth and the last of the Southern dynasties, which was eventually destroyed by the Sui Dynasty. It was also during this period that nomadically-cultured Xianbei people had systematically assimilated into China's agrarian culture, and adopted 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).
Fujian was the original home of a Chen clan before that migrated under "Trần Kinh" 陳京 (Chén Jīng) to Dai Viet and whose descendants established the Tran dynasty which ruled Vietnam (Dai Viet), and certain members of the clan could still speak Chinese such as when a Yuan dynasty envoy had a meeting with the Chinese speaking Tran Prince Trần Quốc Tuấn in 1282.
Other pronunciations and transliterations
Chen, used in MandarinChan, used in Cantonese in Hong Kong, Macao, Thailand, and MalaysiaChin, used in Hakka in Singapore and Malaysia, and Taishanese in AmericaGin, used in TaishaneseJin, used in KoreanTan, used in Hokkien and Teochew in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Min Nan (including Taiwanese), Thailand, and HainaneseTang or Taing, used in Teochew, Cambodia and ThailandTing or Ding, used in FuzhouTrần, Sấn used in VietnameseZen, used in ShanghaineseSen, used as an alternative spelling in Limbu, LimbuwanChen Sheng Rebel Leader of the Dazexiang_Uprising during the Qin DynastyChen Ping (died 173 BC) Minister and Chancellor of the Han dynastyChen Tang general of the Western Han DynastyChen Gong (died 198) Advisor under warlord Lu BuChen Wu (died 215) General under warlord Sun QuanChen Zhen (died 235) Minister of Shu HanChen Qun (died 238) Official of Cao WeiChen Tai (died 260) Official and General of Cao WeiChen Dao General under Warlord Liu Bei later Shu HanChen Deng (204-237) Politician in the late Han DynastyChen Biao General of Eastern WuChen Shi General of Shu HanChen Shou (233-297) Historian and Author in the Early Jin DynastyChen Baxian Founding Emperor of the Chen DynastyChen Qian Second Emperor of the Chen DynastyChen Bozong Third Emperor of the Chen DynastyChen Xu Fourth Emperor of the Chen DynastyChen Shubao Fifth and Last Emperor of the Chen DynastyChen Shuda Official of the Sui Dynasty and Chancellor of the Tang DynastyChen Li, second and the last emperor of the Dahan regime in the late Yuan Dynasty of ChinaChen Cheng (Ming dynasty)Chen Lin, naval general of Ming Dynasty and Commander-in-chief of the Battle of NoryangChen Yuanyuan, concubine of Wu SanguiChen Li (1810–1882), Cantonese scholar of the evidential research schoolChen ChengDynastiesRulers of the Chen DynastyRulers of the Trần DynastyNote: this list is ordered by given name commonly used in English, regardless of spelling of surname and name order.
Agnes Chan (born 1955), Hong Kong singerAlexandre Chan, Brazilian architectAndrew Chan, Australian criminal executed by Indonesia; a member of Bali 9 and was executed in April 2015Arthur Chin (1913–1997), Chinese-American fighter ace in the Second Sino-Japanese War, recognized as the United States' first ace in World War IITan Boon Teik (陈文德) (1929–2012), former Attorney-General of SingaporeBruce Chen (born 1977), Panamanian Major League Baseball playerCheer Chen (born 1975), Taiwanese singer and songwriterChen Changwen (born 1944), Chinese politician and lawyerChen Cheng (1897–1965), Chinese politician and general, Vice President and Premier of the Republic of ChinaTan Cheng Bock (born 1940), Singaporean politician and doctorTan Cheng Lock (1883–1960), founder of the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) and an important figure during the independence of MalayaChih-Ping Chen (1906–1984), diplomat for the Republic of ChinaChristine Chen (born 1968), American journalist, news anchor and CEO of Chen CommunicationsChen Chung-shinDaniel Chan (born 1975), Hong Kong singer, songwriter and actorDanny Chan (1958–1993), Hong Kong actor, singer and composerCharles and Lee-Lee Chan, parents of Jackie ChanChen Ding (born 1992), racewalker, 2012 Olympic championTran Duc Luong (born 1937), Vietnam President from 1997 to 2006Chen Duxiu (1879–1942), co-founder of the Communist Party of China and its first General SecretaryEason Chan (born 1974), Hong Kong actor and singerEdison Chen (born 1980), Canadian-born Hong Kong singerEdward Chen (born 1945), Hong Kong economist and politicianFala Chen (born 1982), Hong Kong-born American actress and singerFrancis Chan (born 1967), American preacherFrankie Chan (born 1951), Chinese martial arts actor, director, producer and composerChen Gang (disambiguation)Chen Guangcheng (born 1971), Chinese civil rights activistH. T. Chen, American dancer and choreographerChen Hong (badminton) (born 1979), Chinese former badminton playerJackie Chan (born 1954), Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, film director, producer, martial artistJason Chan (disambiguation)Jaycee Chan (born 1982), American-born Hong Kong actor and singer, son of Jackie ChanJiebing Chen, Chinese musician who plays the erhuChen Jin (born 1986), Chinese retired badminton playerChen Jingrun (1933–1996), Chinese mathematicianJason Keng-Kwin Chan (born 1971), Malaysian-Australian actorJoan Chen (born 1961), Chinese-American actress and film directorJohnny Chan (born 1957), Chinese-born American professional poker playerJordan Chan (born 1967), Hong Kong actor and singerJosé Antonio Chang (born 19 May 1958), former Prime Minister of PeruJoseph Zen (born 1931), Chinese Roman Catholic cardinal and former Bishop of Hong KongJoyce Chen (chef) (1917–1994), Chinese-American chef, author and television personalityJiun-Shyan Chen, Taiwanese engineerJulie Chen (born 1970), American television personality, news anchor and producerTan Kah Kee (1874–1961), Chinese businessman, community leader and philanthropist in colonial Singapore and ChinaChen Kaige (born 1952), Chinese film directorKelly Chen (born 1972), Hong Kong actress and singerChen Kenichi (born 1956), Japanese chef on the syndicated TV program Iron ChefChen Kenmin (1912-1990), father of Chen Kenichi, and a prominent Chinese chef in JapanTan Khoen Swie (1883/1894–1953), Indonesian publisherKim Chan (1917–2008), American actorLeighton Chan (born 1961), physician and researcherChen Liping (born 1965), Singaporean actressChen Lu (born 1976), Chinese figure skaterLucio Tan (陈永栽) (born 1934), Filipino-Chinese businessman and owner of Philippine AirlinesMargaret Chan (born 1947), Director of World Health OrganizationMei-Ann Chen (born 1973), American orchestra conductor and musicianChen Mengjia (1911–1966), Chinese scholar and archaeologistMichael Tan, a Chinese Filipino medical anthropologist and the 10th Chancellor of the University of the Philippines DilimanMing Chin (born 1942), Associate Justice of the California Supreme CourtMonica Chan (born 1966), Hong Kong actress and winner of Miss Hong Kong 1989Moses Chan (born 1971), Hong Kong actor and modelPatrick Chan (born 1990), Canadian figure skaterChin Peng (1924–2013), longtime leader of the Malayan Communist PartyPeter P. Chen (born 1947), computer scientist, inventor of the Entity-Relationship ModelPriscilla Chan (philanthropist) (born 1985), philanthropist and wife of Facebook CEO Mark ZuckerburgPriscilla Chan (singer) (born 1965), Hong Kong singerRobert Chen (born 1969), violinist and Concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony OrchestraRoger H. Chen (born 1950s), Taiwanese-born American businessman, founder of the 99 Ranch Market supermarket chainChen Shaoguo (born 1971), Chinese former racewalkerChen Shi-Zheng, Chinese-born American theater directorShiing-Shen Chern (1911–2004), Chinese-American mathematicianChen Shui-bian (born 1950), Taiwanese retired politician and lawyer, President of the Republic of China (2000-2008)Sisy Chen (born 1958), Taiwanese politician and television commentatorChan Siu Wing (born 1993), Hong Kong basketball playerSteve Chen (born 1978), co-founder of YouTubeSteve Chen (computer engineer) (born 1944), supercomputer designer and entrepreneurTony Tan-Caktiong (陳覺中), a Chinese Filipino businessmanJin Sun-Yu (born 1988), South Korean short-track speed skaterTerry Chen (born 1975), Canadian actorChen Tianwen (born 1963), Singaporean actorTony Tan (born 1940), current President of SingaporeTrần Độ (1923–2002), lieutenant general of the People's Army of Vietnam and political reformerChen Tze-chung (born 1958), Taiwanese professional golfer also known as T. C. ChenVincent "Randy" Chin (1937–2003), Jamaican record producer and label owner, founder of VP RecordsVincy Chan (born 1982), Cantopop singer from Hong KongChen Wei (dissident) (born 1969), Chinese dissident and human rights activistWei-Yin Chen (born 1985), Major League Baseball pitcher from TaiwanWing-tsit Chan (1901–1994), Chinese scholarChen Xiaoxu (1965–2007), Chinese actressYau-Man Chan (born 1952), Malaysian-American table tennis player, technology executive and reality TV contestantChen Yi (communist) (1901–1972), Chinese communist military commander and politician, Mayor of Shanghai and Foreign MinisterChen Yi (composer) (born 1953), Chinese violinist and composerChen Yi (Kuomintang) (1883–1950), Chief Executive of Taiwan ProvinceChen Yonglin, Chinese communist diplomat who defected to Australia in 2005Chen Yu (badminton) (born 1980), Chinese badminton playerChen Zhi, Chinese guitar teacher and promoterChen Zhu (born 1953), Chinese hematologist, molecular biologist, and politician, former Minister of HealthJulie Tan (born September 22, 1992), Malaysian born Singaporean actress and model.Desmond Tan (born 19 August 1986), Singaporean actorRomeo Tan (born 9 April 1985), Singaporean actorShaun Chen (born 3 November 1978), Malaysian actor in SingaporeCharlie Chan, a fictional detectiveChen, a character in the British science fiction sitcom Red DwarfChan Ho-nam, the fictitious Hong Kong triad boss in the Young and Dangerous film seriesChen Jialuo, protagonist of the Wuxia novel The Book and the SwordDetective Grace Chen, a central character in Martial LawChen, the Holy Knight, a character in the Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos custom map Defense of the Ancients.Chen Stormstout, a hero in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne and an important character in World of Warcraft: Mists of PandariaChen Zhen, a fictional Chinese martial artist and culture heroJing-Mei "Deb" Chen, a Chinese-American physician in the television drama series ER
