Meaning and origin
The last name Chang finds its origins in China, specifically in the Mandarin language. The name Chang is derived from the Chinese character 张, which means "to open" or "to extend." It is believed that the name originated from the ancestral practice of opening or expanding a territory, symbolizing ambition and power. Throughout history, the Chang surname has spread across various regions of the world through migration, making it a globally recognized Chinese surname today.
The longer story
The name Chang is transliterated from the Chinese character 常, which has several possible meanings, including "always," "often," or "common."
Zhang Heng is known for his contributions to various fields such as astronomy, mathematics, and cartography.
The surname Chang is also found in other East Asian countries, such as Korea, where it is spelled 장 (Jang), and Vietnam, where it is spelled Trương or Chương.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#391
Chang was the 391st most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 81,939 people, about 28 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Chang
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Chang is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.