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

Chhun, 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 Chhun surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chhun in America

Chhun is the 29171st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chhun surname appeared 812 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 Chhun.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chhun 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 Chhun

The surname CHHUN is of Cambodian origin, tracing its roots back to the Khmer Empire, which flourished in the region now known as Cambodia from the 9th to the 15th century. The name is believed to have derived from the Khmer word "chun," which means "light" or "radiant."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name CHHUN can be found in the inscriptions of the Angkor Wat temple complex, a renowned architectural marvel built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century. These inscriptions mention several individuals bearing the name CHHUN, suggesting its prevalence among the nobility and elite classes of the Khmer Empire.

During the 13th century, the CHHUN family is documented as having played a significant role in the governance of the Khmer Empire. Chhun Pich, born in 1215, was a prominent statesman and military commander who served under King Jayavarman VIII. His achievements in defending the empire against the Siamese invasions earned him a reputation as a valiant warrior and loyal servant of the crown.

In the 15th century, the CHHUN name gained further prominence with the rise of Chhun Srey, a revered poet and scholar renowned for her contributions to Khmer literature. Her collection of poems, known as the "Chbap Srey," has been widely studied and celebrated as a seminal work in Cambodian cultural heritage.

As the Khmer Empire waned and the region experienced periods of turmoil and foreign occupation, the CHHUN family dispersed across Southeast Asia. However, their name remained deeply rooted in Cambodian culture and history.

One notable figure from more recent times was Chhun Samor, born in 1892, a celebrated Cambodian artist and sculptor who played a pivotal role in reviving traditional Khmer arts and crafts. His intricate wood carvings and sculptures adorned many temples and public spaces in Cambodia, earning him widespread recognition as a master of his craft.

Throughout the centuries, the CHHUN surname has maintained its significance in Cambodia, and individuals bearing this name have made invaluable contributions to various aspects of Cambodian society, including governance, literature, arts, and cultural preservation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chhun

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

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

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

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