Explore the Family Name Zhen
The meaning of Zhen
Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 甄, meaning ‘making pottery’ in ancient Chinese: (i) in some families, from the occupation of making pottery, dating as far back as the reign of the legendary Emperor Shun (c.23rd century bc). (ii) from the last character in the name of Zhong Zhen (仲甄), second son of Gao Yao, a law official during the reign of the legendary Emperor Shun (c.23rd century bc). (iii) adopted by the Yu Du Zhen (鬱都甄) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD). Some characteristic forenames: Chinese Guo, Chun Lin, Jian, Jin, Li, Lian, Lun, Wan Ping, Wen, Yong, Chao, Chen.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Zhen in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Zhen has significantly increased from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it held the rank of 15,661 but jumped to 8,941 in 2010, marking a noteworthy change of approximately 42.91%. The count of individuals with this surname also saw an impressive increase, from 1,713 in 2000 to 3,661 in 2010, which translates into a 113.72% growth. Furthermore, the proportion per 100,000 people bearing this name almost doubled, escalating from 0.64 in 2000 to 1.24 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #15,661 | #8,941 | 42.91% |
| Count | 1,713 | 3,661 | 113.72% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.64 | 1.24 | 93.75% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Zhen
Regarding the ethnic identity associated with the surname Zhen, the Decennial U.S. Census reports that the majority of people carrying this surname identify as Asian/Pacific Islander. Their representation among the bearers of this surname grew slightly from 97.66% in 2000 to 98.63% in 2010. Interestingly, the number of people identifying as two or more races with the surname Zhen decreased by about 64.06%, while those who identified as White rose by 39.02%. The percentage of Hispanic bearers declined by around 53.45%. There were no changes for those identifying as Black, American Indian, and Alaskan Native between 2000 and 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 97.66% | 98.63% | 0.99% |
| White | 0.41% | 0.57% | 39.02% |
| Two or More Races | 1.28% | 0.46% | -64.06% |
| Hispanic | 0.58% | 0.27% | -53.45% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |