Find out how popular the last name Cha is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Cha.

Cha, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Cha surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cha in America

Cha is the 3654th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cha surname appeared 9,732 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Cha.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cha to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Cha

The surname Cha has its origins in China, where it is a relatively common family name. It is believed to have originated from the northern regions of the country during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). The name is derived from the Chinese word "cha," which means "fork" or "branch," and it may have been used to describe someone who lived near a forked river or road.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cha can be found in the Tang Dynasty genealogical records known as the "Jiu Tangshu" (Old Book of Tang), which mentions a family with this surname. During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the name Cha was also documented in the "Songshi" (History of Song), a historical text that chronicled the events and people of that era.

In the 13th century, the Mongolian leader Kublai Khan established the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) in China, and many people with the surname Cha are believed to have migrated to other parts of Asia during this period. For example, the Cha family has a long history in Korea, where they are known as "Cha-ssi."

One notable figure with the surname Cha was Cha Yi (1292-1366), a Korean scholar and poet who served as a high-ranking official during the Goryeo Dynasty. Another prominent individual was Cha Hak-yeon (1563-1644), a Korean Neo-Confucian scholar and writer who was known for his works on ethics and philosophy.

In more recent history, Cha Bum-kun (1953-2023) was a South Korean football player and manager who played for the national team and several clubs in Germany. He is considered one of the greatest Asian footballers of all time.

Another notable figure with the surname Cha is Cha In-pyo (1835-1906), a Korean calligrapher and painter who was renowned for his innovative techniques and his contributions to the development of Korean calligraphy.

Cha Tsu Kong (1882-1948) was a Chinese educator and politician who played a significant role in the establishment of modern educational systems in China. He served as the Minister of Education and was a prominent figure in the early years of the Republic of China.

While the surname Cha has its roots in China, it has spread to other parts of Asia and even to other continents through migration and cultural exchange. However, it remains a prominent family name in East Asian countries, particularly in China, Korea, and parts of Southeast Asia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cha

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Cha.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Cha was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Cha has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Cha was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cha, please contact us.

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