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

Chun, 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 Chun surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chun in America

Chun is the 2740th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chun surname appeared 13,141 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Chun.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chun 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 Chun

The surname "CHUN" has its origins in Korea, with the name first appearing in historical records dating back to the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC - 935 AD). It is derived from the Korean word "chun," which means "spring" or "virtuous."

During the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), the name was frequently found in royal and aristocratic families. One notable example is Chun Yu, a renowned scholar and poet who lived in the 12th century. His writings and works were highly influential and are still studied today.

In the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897), the Chun surname was particularly prevalent in the Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces. Many Chun families held positions of power and influence in these regions. One of the most famous figures from this period was Chun Hee-jeong (1599-1680), a revered Confucian scholar and philosopher.

The Chun surname can also be traced back to the ancient Chinese character "春," which has the same meaning as the Korean word "chun." This suggests that the name may have originated from Chinese immigrants who settled in Korea during ancient times.

Records from the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasties indicate that the Chun surname was often associated with certain place names. For instance, there were Chun clans from the regions of Yeongam, Gyeongju, and Haeju, among others. These regional affiliations helped distinguish different branches of the Chun family.

Notable individuals with the Chun surname throughout history include Chun Tae-il (1851-1921), a prominent educator and independence activist during the Japanese colonial period; Chun Doo-hwan (1931-2021), a former South Korean president and military dictator; and Chun Woo-hee (1959-), an acclaimed actress and film director.

While the exact origins of the Chun surname may be shrouded in ancient history, its enduring presence and significance in Korean culture and society are undeniable. The name has been carried by scholars, artists, politicians, and many other influential figures over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chun

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

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

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

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