Surname Overview
The surname Cha is pronounced chá. It is an ancient surname with multiple ethnic and ancestral origins, and it is now relatively rare.
Cha Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 120Cha / Cha
Origins
Main Origins
The main origin traditions connect the surname Cha with the Jiang, Zi, and Ji surnames, and also mention Yandi's burial at Chaling, descendants of Qi Taigong, and descendants of Lu Yu.
Historical Records
Documentary Records
The Qianfu Lun records, “The Cha clan was an old Yin surname”; the Xu Tongzhi: Clan Records also includes the surname Cha.
Commanderies and Clan Halls
Commanderies and Hall Names
The Cha surname has Linzi Hall, also called Qi Commandery Hall or Qi State Hall, and Ba Commandery Hall, also called Bazhou Hall.
Migration and Distribution
Geographic Distribution
People with the Cha surname are distributed across many parts of China and are also found in Japan, Korea, India, Bangladesh, Iran, and Singapore.
Notable People
Historical Figures
Cha Hua was a Han-dynasty figure mentioned in the Biography of Prince Yi of Jiangdu. Cha Yu was from Wuping in the Ming dynasty and served as an instructor in Luochuan County.
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Surname attestation references
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