Cha (Korean surname)

Cha
Language(s)Korean
Origin
MeaningChariot
Region of originKorean peninsula
Other names
Variant form(s)Che (Chinese)
Cha
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationCha
McCune–ReischauerCh'a

Cha (Korean: ) is a Korean family name.

The Chae (車) clan, which takes Yeonan (延安) as its main branch, is descended from an ancient Chinese emperor (姓 was 姬, 諱 was 軒轅). The origin of the Chae clan in Korea dates back to when Emperor's descendant Sa-sin-gap (似辛甲) fled to ancient Joseon from China, settling down in Pyungyang under Iltosan (一土山), and changing his name to Wang-jo-myeong (王祖明). His descendant Wang Mong (王蒙) changed his name to Jeon (田), Shin (申), etc., to escape political persecution, and later changed his name to Cha Mu-il (車無一), thus establishing the origin of the Cha family.