Chua
A common Chinese surname, especially in Hokkien- and Cantonese-speaking communities, usually reflecting a romanized form of several different Chinese names.
The #7,702 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 71,651 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Chua is a romanized surname form used in several Chinese dialect communities, especially in Southeast Asia. In most cases it reflects a local pronunciation of a Chinese surname written in characters such as 蔡, which is pronounced Tsai in Mandarin and Chua or Chua-like forms in some Southern Chinese varieties. Because the same spelling can represent more than one Chinese name in Roman-letter systems, the surname is best understood as a dialect-based spelling rather than a single original English-language surname.
History
The spelling Chua became familiar in overseas Chinese communities, especially in the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and other parts of Southeast Asia, where Hokkien and related pronunciations were commonly rendered in Latin letters. In the United States it is usually found among immigrants and descendants from those communities. The surname is well known in modern times through public figures, including business and political leaders in Southeast Asia and the diaspora.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same Chinese surname can appear in Latin letters as Chua, Tsai, Cai, Choy, or other spellings depending on dialect and romanization system.