Surname Overview
Surname and Pronunciation
The Chen surname is a traditional Chinese surname, pronounced chén or shèn when used as a surname.
Chen Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 220,230Chen / Chen
Origins
Three Origins
The Chen surname has three main origins: one arose when Dajie, a descendant of Emperor Yao from the Yin Qi clan, was enfeoffed in Chen of Luoyang; one came from the Ji clan after the fourteenth son of King You of Zhou was enfeoffed in Chen and took the state name as his surname; and one descended from Bi Chen, a minister of Zheng during the Spring and Autumn period.
Historical Records
Genealogical Records
Existing genealogical works include the Chen genealogy, the Yizhou genealogy of the Chen family of Anhua, Hunan, the revised genealogy of the Chen family of Anhua, the seventh revised Chen genealogy, and the revised genealogy of the Chen families of Yiyang and Anhua, Hunan; some are held by the Shanghai Library.
Commanderies and Clan Halls
Commanderies and Hall Names
The Chen surname's commandery lineages include Qiaoyang, Yuzhang, and Nanchang. Its hall names include Qiaoyang Hall, Yuzhang Hall, and Nanchang Hall.
Migration and Distribution
Early Development and Migration
The Chen surname originated in Luoyang, Henan. During the Eastern Han, Chen Zhong moved to Nanchang, establishing the Yuzhang commandery lineage. During the Song-Yuan period, Chen Nianyi moved from Jiangxi to Fujian, and his descendants later spread to Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, and other areas.
Notable People
Historical Figures
Chen Zhong was an Eastern Han minister from Nanchang, Jiangxi, and is regarded as the ancestor of the southern Chen branch. Chen Li was a scholar of Sun Wu during the Three Kingdoms period, and Chen You was a literary figure of the Southern Song.
Genealogy and Generation Names
Generation Names
The generation-name sequence of the Chen family of Wushan, Chongqing, includes the lines “Loyalty and integrity pass through the family for generations; the ancestral line remains united for ten thousand generations.”
Continue your family research
Start with ancestral counties, villages, personal names and dates. Record genealogy titles, volumes, editions and catalog identifiers. A shared surname does not prove a shared lineage; compare branch records.
Surname attestation references
These catalogs or datasets attest written names, not every origin or lineage claim on this page.
This page includes automatically organized material. Check the references and original family documents.
Add or correct information
Submit the information and a reference link for possible inclusion on this page.