Explore the Family Name Chae
The meaning of Chae
Korean: written 제, in Chinese characters 諸, meaning ‘all’. This is the only Chinese character for the surname Chae. There are two Chae clans: the Ch’ilwŏn and the Ŭisŏng, the Ch’ilwŏn clan being the larger. Ancestors of this family were originally named Chaegal (諸葛) in Korea. According to the Chaegal clan genealogy, the founding ancestor was a twentieth-generation descendant of a Chinese government official, Chae Kal-lyang (諸葛 亮), a character who plays an important role in the epic tale of the Three Kingdoms. This descendant migrated to the Shilla kingdom some time in the early 9th century. He and his descendants lived in the southern tip of the Korean peninsula for four centuries. It is said that during the reign of the Koryŏ king Kojong (1213–59) two brothers split the Chaegal surname: the younger brother, Yŏng (瑩), took the surname Kal (葛) and the elder brother, Hong (泓), took the surname Chae (諸). In Korea, most members of the Chae clan live in southern Kyŏngsang and Chŏlla provinces. Compare Chai 5, Chay 2, and Che 5. Some characteristic forenames: Korean Young, Sung, Jin, Hyo, Kyung, Yoon, Chin, Dong, Eunhee, Han, Hee, Joon, Chang, Byung, Chong, Kyunghee, Pyong, Seungil, Sung Do, Chong Sun, Dong Hun, Dong Jin, Eunmi, Hae.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Chae in the United States?
The surname Chae has witnessed a growth in popularity according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, the name was ranked at 13,848, but by 2010 it had risen to the 11,914th spot on the list, a change of 13.97%. The count of people with the last name Chae also increased from 2,002 in 2000 to 2,628 in 2010, marking a notable increase of 31.27%. The proportion of individuals with the surname per 100,000 also rose from 0.74 to 0.89 during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,848 | #11,914 | 13.97% |
| Count | 2,002 | 2,628 | 31.27% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.74 | 0.89 | 20.27% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Chae
Looking at ethnicity associated with the surname Chae, the Decennial U.S. Census reveals that it is largely prevalent among the Asian/Pacific Islander population. In 2000, 94.06% of individuals with the surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander and this figure slightly increased to 94.79% by 2010. Meanwhile, the percentage of individuals of two or more ethnicities decreased by 7.57%, and those identifying as White saw a substantial decrease from 3.15% to 1.86%. The Hispanic population with this surname, though small, experienced a significant growth of 144.00%. There was a slight decline in Black individuals with this surname, while the percentage of American Indian and Alaskan Native remained constant at 0.00%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 94.06% | 94.79% | 0.78% |
| White | 3.15% | 1.86% | -40.95% |
| Two or More Races | 1.85% | 1.71% | -7.57% |
| Hispanic | 0.5% | 1.22% | 144% |
| Black | 0.45% | 0.42% | -6.67% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |