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

Chheng, 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 Chheng surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chheng in America

Chheng is the 42790th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chheng surname appeared 506 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 Chheng.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chheng 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 Chheng

The surname CHHENG originated in Cambodia during the Khmer Empire period between the 9th and 15th centuries. It is derived from the Khmer word "cheng," meaning "to rise" or "to ascend," which may have been a title or descriptor for someone who had achieved a higher status or position.

This surname was most prevalent in the central and eastern regions of Cambodia, particularly around the Angkor area, where the capital of the Khmer Empire was located. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name appear in stone inscriptions and manuscripts from the Angkor period.

One notable historical figure with the surname CHHENG was Chheng Chhet, a 15th-century Khmer scholar and author who wrote extensively on Buddhism and Khmer literature. Another was Chheng Bun, a 19th-century Cambodian poet and philosopher, known for his works on traditional Khmer culture and values.

In the early 20th century, Chheng Vam was a prominent Cambodian politician and diplomat who served as the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs during the French colonial era. He played a crucial role in negotiating Cambodia's independence from France in the 1950s.

Chheng Iem, born in 1924, was a renowned Cambodian artist and sculptor, known for his intricate works depicting Khmer culture and mythology. His sculptures can be found in various museums and public spaces across Cambodia.

Chheng Samuth, born in 1935, was a Cambodian writer and intellectual who was instrumental in preserving and promoting Khmer literature and language during the tumultuous years of the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s.

Over time, the CHHENG surname has spread beyond Cambodia to other parts of Southeast Asia and the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its roots and historical significance remain deeply tied to the rich cultural heritage of the Khmer Empire and the Cambodian people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chheng

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

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

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

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