Chen

Chen is a Chinese surname written 陳 in traditional characters and 陈 in simplified form. It is one of the most common surnames among Han Chinese and is widespread in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, and among Chinese diaspora communities worldwide. The surname originated from the ancient State of Chen (陳) during the Zhou Dynasty; people associated with that regional name adopted Chen as a surname, and descendants carried it to different provinces over the centuries.

Pronunciation and romanization vary by dialect. In Mandarin the name is pronounced Chen with a second-tone contour. In Cantonese it is typically romanized Chan; in Hokkien and Teochew it is Tan. The surname also appears in other forms depending on language and country, such as Chan and Tan in various Chinese communities abroad, and Trần in Vietnamese.

Notable people with the surname Chen include Chen Shui-bian, former president of Taiwan; Chen Kaige, renowned Chinese film director; Chen Duxiu, founder of the Chinese Communist Party; and Chen Jingrun, a mathematician known for Chen’s theorem. The surname has a long history and a broad contemporary presence in politics, academia, and the arts, reflecting the widespread dispersion of families tracing their lineage to the ancient State of Chen.