Show ContentsChing History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient roots of the Ching family are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Ching comes from when the family lived near a crevice, chasm, or canyon. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old English word chine, that comes from the Old English word "cinu," meaning fissure, or chasm. The surname meant "dweller by the ravine."

Early Origins of the Ching family

The surname Ching was first found in Somerset, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Ching family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ching research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1243, 1273, 1275, 1803 and 1804 are included under the topic Early Ching History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ching Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Ching family name include Ching, Chinn, Chine, Chynne, Shin, Shinn, Attechine and many more.

Early Notables of the Ching family

More information is included under the topic Early Ching Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ching Ranking

In the United States, the name Ching is the 5,882nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1


United States Ching migration to the United States +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Ching surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Ching Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Ching, on record in Alabama in 1889
  • John H Ching, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1889 2

Australia Ching migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ching Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • George Ching, aged 38, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Magdelana" 3

New Zealand Ching migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Ching Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Richard Ching, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Whitby
  • Jane Ching, aged 28, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Lloyds" in 1842

Contemporary Notables of the name Ching (post 1700) +

  • Mrs. Roger B. Ching, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Louisiana, 1964 4
  • Hung Wo Ching, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Hawaii Territory, 1956 4
  • Calvin Ching, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Hawaii, 1980 4
  • Wang Ching, Chinese civil engineer


Suggested Readings for the name Ching +

  • Ancestors: 900 Years in the Life of a Chinese Family by Frank Ching.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. South Australian Register Wednesday 17th January 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Magdelana 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/magdalena1855.shtml
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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