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

Chee, 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 Chee surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chee in America

Chee is the 6784th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chee surname appeared 4,973 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Chee.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chee 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 Chee

The surname CHEE is believed to have originated in China, with its roots traced back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Chinese word "chi," meaning "lucky" or "auspicious." This surname was particularly common in the Guangdong province of southern China, where many early bearers of the name resided.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the CHEE surname can be found in the Ming Dynasty archives, where a scholar named CHEE Xiansheng was mentioned for his contributions to literature and philosophy. During the Qing Dynasty, a renowned artist named CHEE Zhongshan gained recognition for his intricate landscape paintings, which are now preserved in various museums across China.

In the 18th century, a merchant named CHEE Guanfeng played a significant role in establishing trade routes between China and Southeast Asia, facilitating the export of silk and porcelain. His successful business ventures contributed to the spread of the CHEE surname across the region.

As Chinese immigrants began to settle in various parts of the world, the CHEE surname could be found in different countries. In Malaysia, a prominent figure named CHEE Swee Hee (1916-1999) made his mark as a successful businessman and philanthropist, establishing several educational institutions and contributing to the development of the nation.

Another notable bearer of the CHEE surname was CHEE Soon Juan (1924-2007), a Singaporean politician and diplomat who served as the country's ambassador to several nations and played a crucial role in shaping Singapore's foreign policy during the early years of its independence.

In the United States, CHEE Kung Tong (1887-1957) was a renowned herbalist and practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, who gained recognition for his expertise in treating various ailments and promoting holistic healing practices.

The CHEE surname has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout history. For example, the village of Chee Keng in Malaysia was named after an early settler with the CHEE surname, reflecting the influence and presence of this family in the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chee

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

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 Chee 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 Chee 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 Chee was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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