Surname Cheen - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'C'
Cheen: What does the surname Cheen mean?
The last name Cheen is believed to have originated from the Chinese "qin" or "chen" which means beautiful, or family. It is thought to have been passed down through generations, likely originating in the country's Fujian province.
Cheen is an uncommon last name, with many variations due to its prevalence in many different cultures. Cheen is a common spelling in India, however in the United States, Chen is the most popular spelling.
Due to the prevalence of the name Cheen in various cultures, there may be multiple interpretations of the meaning. In Chinese, the name has been translated into 'beloved, beautiful family' to 'forge ahead', to 'profound and initiative'.
The name is also popular among the Indian culture. In India, the name Cheen is thought to mean 'lord of gems', and could come from the Sanskrit word 'chandaraya', which means moon.
The name has been passed down over generations, and as a result, has taken on a range of meanings that vary significantly throughout different cultures and countries. No matter the origin, the name Cheen is most often associated with beauty, beloved family, and strength.
Order DNA origin analysisCheen: Where does the name Cheen come from?
The last name Cheen is most commonly seen today in the United States and Canada, primarily among people with Chinese or Southeast Asian background. It is also occasionally seen among ethnic Chinese people in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and various other countries in East and Southeast Asia.
Cheen is a fairly common surname in Chinese-speaking cultures, likely arising from the surname Chen. Chen is a common Chinese surname derived from the character 陳 or 陈诚, which means "declare, announce". The "e" in Cheen likely comes from Chinese romanisation systems that replace the "n" in Chen with an "e".
Outside of the Chinese diaspora, Cheen is a lesser-seen surname. There are a few notable individuals who bear the last name Cheen, such as Korean-American actor Erik K. Cheen and London-based artist Grace Cheen.
Popular culture references to the surname Cheen can be seen in films such as Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, in which the character Kumar Patel is played by Kal Penn, and in the TV show The Mindy Project, in which the protagonist Mindy Lahiri is played by Mindy Kaling.
Variations of the surname Cheen
The surname Cheen is a relatively uncommon one, with few variants and spellings. The primary and most commonly seen form is Cheen, but it is often also spelled 'Chein' and 'Chen'. At times, it is also spelled as 'Chyne' or 'Chin'.
In terms of surnames of the same origin, related surnames can be seen within and outside of China. In China, the surname is sometimes also rendered as 'Chuan', as well as 'Chan', 'Cheung', 'Chung', and 'Chow'. Occasionally it is also seen spelled as 'Tsang'. Additionally, other Asian countries like Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore may have differently spelled versions of the surname.
Outside of Asia, the surname is often anglicized as 'Cheney'. The spelling may vary depending on the family history. Other anglicized spellings include 'Chaney', 'Cheyney' and 'Cheeney'. There is also the variant 'Chenay', which is a combination of the French 'Chen' and Irish 'Ay' suffixes. Historically, the surname appears to have been spelled differently from time to time, especially in accordance with the common practice of assigning surnames to new immigrants.
On a final note, it is worth mentioning that there are many surnames which vary from culture to culture but are not related to one another in terms of origin. For example, the given name 'Chen' is relatively popular amongst many cultures, but the surname is very different from the Cheen anymore, and its spelling may vary accordingly. It is, therefore, important to research the roots of a surname when attempting to determine its variants and spellings.
Famous people with the name Cheen
- Cissy Wang Cheen: Taiwanese-American professional bodybuilder
- Tommy Cheen: Australian professional basketball player
- Bruce Cheen: Australian contemporary artist
- James Cheen: Chinese-American journalist
- Justin Cheen: American disability rights activist
- Han Cheen: Hong Kong-born Canadian comedian
- Anne Cheen: Indian professional badminton player
- Himmat Singh Cheen: Indian politician
- Peter Cheen: Singaporean doctor
- Jet Cheen: Chinese-American photographer