Chen is a multi-ethnic and multi-source ancient surname, ranking fifth in the surname list and first in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao. In the Map of Surname Density in China, the distribution of Chen's surname is very consistent with that of Minhai people, which is extremely high in the coastal areas of southern Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong, followed by the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta, and rarely in the northern nomadic areas. Chen ranks first in the south and seventh in the north, surpassing many typical surnames in the north.
Overseas, Chen is the first surname in Singapore and Malaysia. Historically, the surname Chen of Ryukyu Kingdom is also very popular, and several generations have served as ambassadors, general managers, doctors, long history and fire chiefs of Ryukyu Kingdom.