Chens

Chens is the plural form used in English to refer to people bearing the Chinese surname Chen (陳/陈). The surname Chen is among the most common in China and in Chinese communities abroad, so the phrase “the Chens” may appear in discussions about people sharing that surname.

Origin and forms

Chen traces its origins to the ancient Chen state during the Zhou Dynasty. Descendants of the ruling house and other families in the Chen region adopted Chen as their surname. The traditional character is 陳, while the simplified form is 陈; both represent the same surname in different writing systems. The surname spread widely with migration and migration-related historical movements, becoming common across China, Taiwan, and overseas communities.

Distribution and transliteration

Chens appear throughout Chinese-speaking regions and in the global Chinese diaspora. In Mandarin, the surname is commonly romanized as Chen. In Cantonese contexts, it is often rendered Chan, while in some Hokkien-speaking communities it is rendered Tan. Vietnamese uses Tran, and other East Asian or Southeast Asian languages have their own variants. The plural form “Chens” is typically used only in English-language writing when referring to multiple individuals who share the surname Chen.

Notable people

Because Chen is so widespread, many notable individuals are associated with the surname, including figures in politics, arts, and science. Examples include Chen Kaige, a Chinese film director, and Chen Shui-bian, a former president of Taiwan, among others.

See also

Chen (surname) for a broader discussion of origin, distribution, and notable bearers.