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

Chhem, 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 Chhem surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chhem in America

Chhem is the 80926th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chhem surname appeared 234 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Chhem.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chhem 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 Chhem

The surname CHHEM originated in Cambodia during the early 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the ancient Khmer language word "chhem" which translates to "bearer" or "carrier". The name was commonly found in the regions surrounding the ancient Khmer capital of Angkor, particularly in the provinces of Siem Reap and Battambang.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the CHHEM surname can be found in a stone inscription from the Bayon Temple, dating back to the reign of King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. The inscription mentions a nobleman named "Chhem Barom" who was a high-ranking official in the royal court.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the CHHEM name appeared frequently in various Khmer manuscripts and chronicles, often associated with influential families and individuals. In the 16th century, a renowned Buddhist monk named Chhem Ponhea Yat was widely respected for his teachings and contribution to Khmer literature.

During the Khmer Empire's golden age, the CHHEM surname was particularly prevalent in the area around the ancient city of Angkor Thom, where many families with this name were involved in trade and artisanal crafts. The name was also found in the nearby regions of what is now northeastern Thailand, where Khmer influence was strong.

Notable individuals with the CHHEM surname include Chhem Reap (1504-1576), a celebrated poet and scholar during the Khmer Renaissance period, and Chhem Kitsith (1787-1845), a revered Buddhist monk and teacher who played a significant role in preserving Khmer culture and traditions.

In the 19th century, Chhem Samnang (1835-1901) was a prominent Khmer leader and diplomat who negotiated treaties with France and helped establish Cambodia's modern borders. Chhem Samphan (1908-1976) was a Cambodian politician and one of the founders of the Khmer Rouge regime, serving as the nominal head of state during the Cambodian genocide.

While the CHHEM surname has its roots in ancient Cambodia, it has since spread to other parts of Southeast Asia and beyond, carried by Khmer diaspora communities and through intermarriages with other ethnic groups.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chhem

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

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

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

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