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

Chien, 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 Chien surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chien in America

Chien is the 8732nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chien surname appeared 3,756 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Chien.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chien 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 Chien

The surname CHIEN is of French origin, dating back to the Middle Ages. Its roots can be traced to the Old French word "chien," which means "dog." This name was likely given as a nickname to someone who exhibited dog-like traits or behaviors, or perhaps to someone who worked with dogs, such as a hunter or a dog trainer.

In the early 14th century, records show the name CHIEN appearing in various regions of France, particularly in the northern and central parts of the country. One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the archives of the city of Rouen, where a certain Jean CHIEN was mentioned in a legal document dated 1325.

During the Renaissance period, the CHIEN surname gained prominence among the French nobility. Notable figures bearing this name include Étienne CHIEN, a prominent lawyer and judge who lived from 1510 to 1587. He served as a counselor to the Parliament of Paris and was known for his expertise in civil law.

In the 17th century, the CHIEN family established a strong presence in the region of Burgundy, where they owned several vineyards and estates. One of the most illustrious members of this branch was Louis CHIEN (1625-1701), a respected vintner and patron of the arts, who commissioned several works from renowned painters and sculptors of his time.

As the CHIEN surname spread throughout France, it also found its way into other parts of Europe. In the 18th century, a German branch of the family emerged, with Johann CHIEN (1725-1798) becoming a respected theologian and author of several influential religious texts.

Across the Atlantic, the CHIEN name took root in the French colonies of North America, particularly in the regions of Quebec and Louisiana. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in the New World was that of Pierre CHIEN, a fur trader and explorer who accompanied the expeditions of René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, in the late 17th century.

Over the centuries, the CHIEN surname has been associated with various professions and fields, from law and politics to the arts and academia. Notable individuals bearing this name include the French novelist and playwright René CHIEN (1879-1936), the Swiss architect and urban planner Charles CHIEN (1892-1971), and the Canadian politician and diplomat Paul CHIEN (1920-2009).

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chien

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!