Chini last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Chini

A surname from France and Italy meaning from Chinese or of Chinese origin.

Chini, 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 Chini surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chini in America

Chini is the 79338th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chini surname appeared 240 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 Chini.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chini 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 79338 81414 -2.58%
Count 240 216 10.53%
Proportion per 100k 0.08 0.08 0.00%

The history of the last name Chini

The surname CHINI is of Italian origin, with its roots traced back to the 14th century in the region of Tuscany. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "china," which means "slope" or "incline," suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived on a hillside or sloping terrain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name CHINI can be found in the historic "Catasto," a land registry document from Florence, dating back to the year 1427. The entry mentions a certain "Piero di Chini," indicating the presence of the surname in the area during that time.

In the 16th century, the name CHINI gained prominence with the birth of Baccio del Bianco Chini (1494-1544), a renowned Italian painter and architect from Florence. His works, including frescoes and architectural designs, can still be admired in various churches and buildings throughout Tuscany.

Another notable figure with the surname CHINI was Gasparo Chini (1828-1891), an Italian politician and journalist from the city of Livorno. He was actively involved in the Risorgimento movement, which aimed to unify the various states of the Italian peninsula.

In the 20th century, the name CHINI achieved international recognition through the artistic talents of Galileo Chini (1873-1937), a celebrated Italian painter, ceramist, and designer. His distinctive Art Nouveau style and innovative works in ceramics and stained glass influenced the Italian decorative arts movement of the early 1900s.

Giorgetto Chini (1930-2022), an Italian businessman and entrepreneur, also carried the surname CHINI. He played a significant role in the growth and expansion of the Benetton Group, a renowned Italian clothing company, serving as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for several decades.

While the surname CHINI may have originated from a geographical reference, its legacy has been shaped by individuals who have left an indelible mark in various fields, including art, politics, and business, throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chini

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

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 Chini was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 86.25% 207
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 4.58% 11
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 6.67% 16
Hispanic Origin 2.50% 6

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 Chini has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 86.25% 94.44% -9.07%
Black 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 4.58% 2.78% 48.91%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 6.67% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 2.50% (S)% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

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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!

"Chini last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 4, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/chini-surname-popularity/.

"Chini last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/chini-surname-popularity/. Accessed 4 July, 2025

Chini last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/chini-surname-popularity/.

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