Origins of the Chen (陈) surname
Chinese sources record 7 separate lines of origin for the Chen (陈) surname, and name 10 commanderies of origin (junwang). Each is summarised below with its source.
Originated from the Gui (妫) surname
The Chen (陈) surname earliest originated from the Gui (妫) surname, descendants of Emperor Shun. After King Wu of Zhou overthrew the Shang dynasty, he enfeoffed Hu Gong Man (胡公满), a descendant of Emperor Shun, in the region of Chen (陈), establishing the State of Chen (陈国). His descendants thereafter adopted Chen (陈) as their clan name.
Adoption and surname change from the Liu (刘) surname
A branch of the Chen (陈) surname in Guangling (广陵) during the late Han dynasty was originally of the Liu (刘) surname: because Lu Xiang (鲁相) had no son, he adopted his maternal grandson Liu Jiao (刘矫) as heir; his descendants thereafter adopted Chen (陈) as their surname.
Surname change from the Bai (白) surname
At the beginning of the Sui dynasty, Bai Yonggui (白永贵) of Longyou (陇右) changed his surname to Chen (陈); his grandson Chen Lingying (陈令英) appears in historical records, forming a branch of the Wan Nian (万年) Chen (陈) lineage.
Surname change from the Houmo Chen (侯莫陈) surname
During the sinicization reforms instituted by Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei dynasty, the Xianbei aristocratic Houmo Chen (侯莫陈) surname was changed to the single-character surname Chen (陈) in 496.
Surname change by the Jurchen people
At the end of the Jin dynasty, members of the Jurchen imperial Wanyan (完颜) clan changed their surname to Chen (陈).
Bestowal of the Chen (陈) surname upon Mongol nobles
At the beginning of the Ming dynasty, the Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang (朱元璋) bestowed the Chen (陈) surname upon surrendered Mongol nobles, such as Qiaqia (恰恰), who was given the name Chen Shouzhong (陈守忠), and Haha (哈哈), who was given the name Chen Yuan (陈元).
Manchu Chen (陈) lineage
Manchu Chen (陈) lineages include Han Chinese Chen (陈) families forcibly renamed by Later Jin, as well as those originally of Goryeo or Liaodong Han origin who later integrated into the Manchu ethnicity and adopted the Chen (陈) surname, such as the Chenjia (陈佳) clan.
Commanderies of origin (junwang)
- Yingchuan Commandery (颍川郡)
- Runan Commandery (汝南郡)
- Xiapi Commandery (下邳郡)
- Guangling Commandery (广陵郡)
- Donghai Commandery (东海郡)
- Henan Commandery (河南郡)
- Wudang Commandery (武当郡)
- Lujiang Commandery (庐江郡)
- Fengyi Commandery (冯翊郡)
- Jingzhao Commandery (京兆郡)
Hall names (tanghao)
- Shi De Tang (世德堂)
- Yu Xi Tang (玉溪堂)
- San Yuan Tang (三元堂)
- Chong Hui Tang (崇汇堂)
- Yi Men Tang (义门堂)
- Ju De Tang (聚德堂)
- Ying Chuan Tang (颍川堂)
- De Xing Tang (德星堂)
- De Ju Tang (德聚堂)
- Sheng Wu Tang (绳武堂)
- Jin Dun Tang (金敦堂)
- Yong Mu Tang (雍睦堂)
- De Fang Tang (德芳堂)
- Dun Mu Tang (敦睦堂)
- Ju Xing Tang (聚星堂)
- Rong De Tang (荣德堂)
- Rong Xi Tang (荣禧堂)
- Qing Chang Hao (庆昌号)