2000
#260
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 105,544
First available Census row
Per 100,000 39.12
Common Last name
Chen
A Chinese surname meaning "to put forth" or "to bear," originally referring to the birth of a child.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 268,102 Americans carry the last name Chen. That puts it at #93 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 78.22 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,278 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Chen surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Chen with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
268K
1 in 1,278
Census rank
#93
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
78.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
234K
common in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 233,798 bearers of the surname Chen in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 78.22 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 93rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Chen, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 95.4%. The next largest groups are White (2.1%) and Two or More Races (1.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Chen
The surname Chen originated from China, with records of the name dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is a Chinese family name that has been widely used across various regions of the country for centuries.
Chen is derived from the ancient Chinese word "陳" (chén), which means "to exhibit" or "to display". It is believed that this surname was initially given to individuals who held positions related to exhibiting or showcasing items, such as artisans or artisans' assistants.
During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the Chen surname was particularly prevalent in the region of Wuxi, located in present-day Jiangsu Province. Historical records from this period, such as local gazetteers, mention several notable figures with the Chen surname who held positions of influence in the region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Chen surname can be found in the "Book of Tang", a historical text compiled in the 10th century AD, which mentions Chen Xuanli (陳玄理), a renowned poet and calligrapher who lived during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD).
Another notable figure with the Chen surname was Chen Qingzhi (陳慶之), a prominent scholar and official during the Song Dynasty, who played a crucial role in the establishment of the Confucian Academy in Wuxi.
During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the Chen surname was particularly prevalent in the southern regions of China, such as Guangdong and Fujian provinces. One of the most famous individuals with this surname from this period was Chen Jingrun (陳經綸), a renowned naval commander and strategist who helped defend the coastal regions against pirate attacks.
In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD), the Chen surname was widespread across various regions of China. One notable figure was Chen Xuju (陳虛舉), a respected scholar and philosopher who made significant contributions to the study of Neo-Confucianism.
Another prominent individual with the Chen surname was Chen Duxiu (陳獨秀), a leader of the May Fourth Movement in the early 20th century, which played a crucial role in shaping modern Chinese literature and culture.
Throughout history, the Chen surname has been associated with numerous accomplished individuals in various fields, including literature, art, philosophy, and military affairs, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and diversity of China.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Chen
Among Census respondents with the surname Chen, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 95.4%. The next largest groups are White (2.1%) and Two or More Races (1.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Chen bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Chen surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander95.4% · 223,126
- White2.1% · 4,829
- Two or more races1.5% · 3,413
- Hispanic or Latino0.6% · 1,358
- Black or African American0.4% · 1,049
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.0% · 23
Timeline
Historical Census data for Chen
Chen appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#150
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 169,580
+64,036 bearers (+60.7%)
Per 100,000 57.49
Rank movement Up 110 places
2020
#93
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 233,798
+64,218 bearers (+37.9%)
Per 100,000 78.22
Rank movement Up 57 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #260 | 105,544 | 39.12 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #150 | 169,580 | 57.49 | +64,036 bearers (+60.7%) | Up 110 places |
| 2020 | #93 | 233,798 | 78.22 | +64,218 bearers (+37.9%) | Up 57 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Chen surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #150 | #93 | 38.0% |
| Count | 169,580 | 233,798 | 37.9% |
| Per 100K | 57.49 | 78.22 | 36.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Chen bearers went from 169,580 to 233,798 (+37.9% change). The surname moved up 57 positions in the national ranking, going from #150 to #93.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Chen
FAQ
Chen surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Chen?
Name Census estimates that about 268,102 living Americans carry the surname Chen. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,278 residents.
How common is Chen?
Chen ranks #93 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Common." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 78.22 per 100,000 residents, which is about 78 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 233,798 people with the surname Chen. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (268,102), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 78.22 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 78.22 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 78 of them to have the surname Chen.
Has Chen become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Chen went from 169,580 recorded bearers to 233,798. That is an increase of 64,218 (+37.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #150 to #93.
What does the Census say about the background of Chen?
Among Census respondents with the surname Chen, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 95.4%. The next largest groups are White (2.1%) and Two or More Races (1.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Chen in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.4% (223,126 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Chen appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (95.4%), White (2.1%), Two or More Races (1.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Chen (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Chen mean?
A Chinese surname meaning "to put forth" or "to bear," originally referring to the birth of a child. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Chen (78.22 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Chen?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.