CHUNG
The surname Chung is of Chinese origin and can be encountered in many East Asian diaspora communities around the world. Its earliest attestations in Romanised form appear in documents dating to the early twentieth century, with the name recorded in international urban registers as early as 1619 in London.
The Chinese character represented by Chung carries several distinct meanings. One common interpretation is loyal or faithful, reflecting the cultural emphasis on allegiance and trustworthiness in Chinese society. In other cases the same character denotes middle or central, a concept that is symbolised by balance and harmony. The name may also be viewed as a variant of the surname Zhang – whose literal meaning is archer or bowman – thereby adding a martial dimension to its significance.
Romanised spellings of the surname include Chung, Change, Ching and, less frequently, Shenge. The name derives from a character that literally translates as hanging bell, alluding to the bell‑shaped flowers of certain plants such as fuchsia. Consequently, the surname is not related to bell‑foundry or bell‑ringing traditions. Documents from the eighteen‑hundred‑s and early nineteen‑hundred‑s record individuals such as Wah Chung, who was present at the baptism of his daughter in Hong Kong on 28 September 1950, and Tong Wong Chung, a witness at Santa Barbara Church in California on 20 October 1889 during the presidency of Benjamin Harrison.
In the United Kingdom, the surname is frequently borne by descendants of Chinese immigrants who arrived on the Beaconsfield Line and other routes during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The varied meanings and historic spellings of Chung reflect the rich linguistic heritage that is maintained within the families that carry this name today.
Typical given names associated with the Chung surname
Male
- Andrew
- Chi
- Chun
- David
- Kenneth
- Kwai
- Kwok
- Man
- Michael
- Simon
- Wai
Female
- Angela
- Helen
- Kam
- Kit
- Lai
- Lisa
- Maria
- Mei
- Sau
- Siu
- Wendy
- Wing
- Yuk
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Chung in...
Braille
⠉⠓⠥⠝⠛
Morse
-.-.......--.--.
Semaphore
There are approximately 4,796 people named Chung in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,967th most common surname in Britain. Around 74 in a million people in Britain are named Chung.
Region of origin: Asia
Country of origin: China
Language of origin: Chinese
Famous people named Chung
- Alexa Chung - Television presenter, model and contributing editor at British Vogue
- Jamie Chung - American actress
- Sammy Chung - Football player and coach
- Cheng Chung-tai - Hong Kong politician
- Alan Chui Chung-San - Actor
- Tam Yiu-chung - Hong Kong politician
- Gregory Wong Chung-yiu - Hong Kong actor
- Leung Yiu-chung - Hong Kong politician
- Luk Chung-hung - Hong Kong politician
- Sir Sze-yuen Chung - Hong Kong politician (1917 to 2018)
- Mark Chung - German musician
- Au Yeung Yiu Chung - Hong Kong football player
- Raymond Ho Chung-tai - Chinese politician
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.