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

Tsen, 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 Tsen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tsen in America

Tsen is the 88336th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tsen surname appeared 210 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 Tsen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tsen 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 Tsen

The surname TSEN is believed to have originated in China, with its earliest known usage dating back to the 7th century AD during the Tang Dynasty. The name is thought to be derived from the Chinese word "zhen," meaning "true" or "genuine." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive term for someone who was considered honest or sincere.

In ancient Chinese records, variations of the name, such as Tsen, Tseng, and Zhen, can be found. One of the earliest known references to the name appears in the Tang Dynasty poetry anthology, "Three Hundred Tang Poems," which includes works by poets with the surname TSEN.

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the TSEN surname gained prominence, particularly in the provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu. Historical documents from this period mention several notable figures bearing the name, including Tsen Daxiu (1008-1085), a renowned Confucian scholar and philosopher.

As the Chinese diaspora spread throughout Asia, the TSEN surname traveled with them. In the 15th century, records from the Ming Dynasty indicate the presence of TSEN families in the Malacca Sultanate, which is now part of modern-day Malaysia.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname TSEN was Tsen Goufu (1783-1841), a Chinese scholar and philosopher who played a significant role in the Taiping Rebellion in the 19th century. His writings and teachings influenced many of the movement's leaders.

Another notable figure was Tsen Keli (1855-1925), a Chinese diplomat and politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs during the late Qing Dynasty and the early years of the Republic of China.

In the 20th century, Tsen Chung-ning (1908-1998), a renowned Chinese-American architect, gained recognition for his contributions to modern architecture, particularly his design of the Shanghai Grand Theatre.

While the surname TSEN has its roots in China, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the ancient Chinese civilization, where it was associated with honesty, integrity, and scholarly pursuits.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tsen

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

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

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

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