Cheung
A Chinese surname meaning "long" or "prosperous," originating from the former state of Zheng during the Zhou Dynasty.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 21,799 Americans carry the last name Cheung. That puts it at #1,920 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 6.36 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 15,723 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Cheung surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
22K
1 in 15,723
Census rank
#1,920
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
6.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
19K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 18,765 bearers of the surname Cheung in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 6.36 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1920th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Cheung, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 95.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.0%) and White (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Cheung
The surname CHEUNG originated in China, specifically in the Guangdong province during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is derived from the Chinese characters 張, which can be translated to "stretch" or "extend". The name was likely given to someone who excelled in archery or possessed exceptional physical strength.
CHEUNG is a romanized version of the Cantonese pronunciation of the Chinese characters 張. In Mandarin, the surname is pronounced as "Zhang". The earliest recorded instance of this surname can be traced back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), where it appeared in various historical records and genealogical books.
One notable historical reference is the "Cheung Family Genealogy" (張氏族譜), a comprehensive record of the CHEUNG lineage compiled during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD). This document provides valuable insights into the origins and migration patterns of the CHEUNG family across various regions of China.
Among the earliest recorded individuals with the surname CHEUNG was Zhang Zhuzheng (張鑄錚, 946-998 AD), a prominent scholar and calligrapher during the Song Dynasty. Another influential figure was Zhang Jiucheng (張九成, 1092-1159 AD), a military strategist and statesman who played a crucial role in the foundation of the Southern Song Dynasty.
During the Ming Dynasty, CHEUNG Tsing-lung (張廷龍, 1567-1626) was a renowned poet and calligrapher whose works were highly regarded in literary circles. In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD), CHEUNG Shih-chieh (張士誠, 1638-1707) was a prominent scholar and philosopher who made significant contributions to the Neo-Confucian movement.
Another notable figure was CHEUNG Hing-wah (張衡華, 1805-1845), a renowned diplomat and scholar who served as the Qing Empire's ambassador to various European countries. His memoirs provide valuable insights into the cultural exchange between China and the West during the 19th century.
Throughout history, the CHEUNG surname has been associated with various place names and locations in China, such as Zhangzhou (漳州) in Fujian province and Zhangye (張掖) in Gansu province, which were likely named after influential CHEUNG families or individuals from these regions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Cheung
Among Census respondents with the surname Cheung, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 95.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.0%) and White (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Cheung bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Cheung surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander95.1%
- Two or more races2.0%
- White1.8%
- Hispanic or Latino0.8%
- Black or African American0.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.0%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Cheung surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,920 | #1,920 | 0.0% |
| Count | 18,765 | 18,765 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 6.36 | 6.36 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Cheung bearers went from 18,765 to 18,765 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,920 to #1,920.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Cheung
FAQ
Cheung surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Cheung?
The surname Cheung holds position #1,920 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 21,799 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 6.36 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Cheung surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Cheung, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 95.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.0%) and White (1.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.