Chew is a

Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of ...

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

Korean surname A Korean name (Hangul: ; Hanja: ) consists of a family name followed by a given name, as used by the Korean people in both South Korea and North Korea. In the Korean language, ''ireum'' or ''seongmyeong'' usually refers to the family name (''seo ...

Origins

As an English surname, Chew has three separate origins: * A

toponymic surname A toponymic surname or topographic surname is a surname derived from a place name.

referring to a place in Billington, Lancashire. It was originally spelled Cho, from

Middle English Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English ...

, which is possibly a descendant of

Old English Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlers in the mid-5th c ...

meaning "fish gill". * A toponymic surname referring to

Chew Magna Chew Magna is a village and civil parish within the Chew Valley in the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset, in the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. The parish has a population of 1,149. To the south of the village is Che ...

Chew Stoke Chew Stoke is a small village and civil parish in the affluent Chew Valley, in Somerset, England, about south of Bristol and 10 miles north of Wells. It is at the northern edge of the Mendip Hills, a region designated by the United Kingdom ...

in Somerset. * A

nickname A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, a form of endearment, and sometimes amusement, it can also be used to express defamation of character. As a concept, it is ...

from Old English , which refers to smaller chattering species of

crow A crow is a bird of the genus '' Corvus'', or more broadly a synonym for all of ''Corvus''. Crows are generally black in colour. The word "crow" is used as part of the common name of many species. The related term "raven" is not pinned scientifica ...

, in particular the

red-billed chough The red-billed chough, Cornish chough or simply chough ( ; ''Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax''), is a bird in the crow family, one of only two species in the genus '' Pyrrhocorax''. Its eight subspecies breed on mountains and coastal cliffs from the w ...

. As a Chinese surname, Chew is a spelling of the pronunciation in different

varieties of Chinese Chinese, also known as Sinitic, is a branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family consisting of hundreds of local varieties, many of which are not mutually intelligible. Variation is particularly strong in the more mountainous southeast of ma ...

of a number of distinct surnames including the below ones, listed by their pronunciation in

Mandarin Chinese Mandarin (; ) is a group of Chinese (Sinitic) dialects that are natively spoken across most of northern and southwestern China. The group includes the Beijing dialect, the basis of the phonology of Standard Chinese, the official language ...

: * Zhōu (), spelled Chew based on its pronunciation in the

Teochew dialect Teochew or Chaozhou (, , , Teochew endonym: , Shantou dialect: ) is a dialect of Chaoshan Min, a Southern Min language, that is spoken by the Teochew people in the Chaoshan region of eastern Guangdong and by their diaspora around the world. ...

of Southern Min (

Peng'im (: ( Teochew) (Swatow), : or , : or ) is a Teochew dialect romanisation system as a part of Guangdong Romanisation published by Guangdong Provincial Education Department in 1960. Tone of this system is based on Swatow dialect. The system ...

: ; IPA: ). * Zhào (), spelled Chew based on its pronunciation in

Cantonese Cantonese ( zh, t=廣東話, s=广东话, first=t, cy=Gwóngdūng wá) is a language within the Chinese (Sinitic) branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages originating from the city of Guangzhou (historically known as Canton) and its surrounding ar ...

(; IPA: ) * Qiū () or

Qiú Qiú is the Hanyu Pinyin transliteration of 仇 (Qiú) and 裘 (Qiú). 仇 (Qiú) There are three sources for the ancestry of 仇: #A Xia Dynasty, Xia vassal by the name of Jiuwu (九吾) established the state of Jiu (九), but it was destroyed by ...

(), from a variant of the Mandarin

Wade–Giles Wade–Giles () is a romanization system for Mandarin Chinese. It developed from a system produced by Thomas Francis Wade, during the mid-19th century, and was given completed form with Herbert A. Giles's '' Chinese–English Dictionary'' o ...

spelling Ch'iu As a

, Chew might be an alternative spelling of the surnames spelled Ju () or Chu () in the Revised Romanization of Korean.

Statistics

According to statistics cited by

Patrick Hanks Patrick Hanks (born 24 March 1940) is an English lexicographer, corpus linguist, and onomastician. He has edited dictionaries of general language, as well as dictionaries of personal names. Background Hanks was educated at Ardingly College, ...

, there were 2,033 people on the island of

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It i ...

and 48 on the island of

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

with the surname Chew as of 2011. In 1881 there had been 1,490 people with the surname in Great Britain, mainly in

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancash ...

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other English counties, functions have ...

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( abbreviated Glos) is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn and the entire Forest of Dean. The county town is the city of Gl ...

, and

Bedfordshire Bedfordshire (; abbreviated Beds) is a ceremonial county in the East of England. The county has been administered by three unitary authorities, Borough of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Borough of Luton, since Bedfordshire County Council ...

. The

2010 United States Census The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators servi ...

found 8,905 people with the surname Chew, making it the 3,988th-most-common name in the country. This represented an decrease in relative frequency, but an increase in absolute numbers, from 8,516 (3,831st-most-common) in the 2000 Census. In both censuses, about four-tenths of the bearers of the surname identified as

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, four-tenths as

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...

, and 15% as

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ...

. It was the 310th-most-common surname among respondents to the 2000 Census who identified as Asian.

People

Notable people with the surname include:

Academia

* Chew Chin Hin (), Singaporean physician *

Geoffrey Chew (musicologist) Geoffrey Chew () is a British musicologist. He was born and grew up in East London, Eastern Cape, East London, South Africa, but has lived in Britain most of his life. After being educated in South Africa as a child, he studied music in England ...

(), British musicologist * Geoffrey Chew (1924–2019), American theoretical physicist *

Chew Kheng Chuan Chew Kheng Chuan (; born 1957), also known as KC Chew, is a Singaporean fundraiser. The first Singaporean admitted to Harvard College, he is known for pioneering fundraising in Southeast Asia and for his involvement in Operation Spectrum in 198 ...

(born 1957), Singaporean academic administrator * Lock Yue Chew (), Singaporean physicist * Wee-Lek Chew (born 1932), Singaporean-born botanist

Film and television

Chew Chor Meng Chew Chor Meng (born 20 November 1968), better known as Zhou Chuming, is a Singaporean actor. He is one of the first batch of actors to receive the All-Time Favourite Artiste award with Zoe Tay & Li Nanxing. Career Chew started his career ...

(born 1968), Singaporean actor *

Richard Chew Richard Franklin Chew (born June 28, 1940) is an American film editor, best known for his Academy Award-winning work on ''Star Wars'' (1977), alongside Paul Hirsch and Marcia Lucas. Other notable films include ''One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' ...

(born 1940), American cinematographer * Robert F. Chew (1960–2013), American actor * Sam Chew Jr. (), American actor

Government, politics, and military

Ada Nield Chew Ada Nield Chew (28 January 1870 – 27 December 1945) was a campaigning socialist and a British suffragist. Her name is on the plinth of Millicent Fawcett's statue in Parliament Square, London. Life Nield was born on a White Hall Farm, Talk ...

(1870–1945), British suffragist *

Benjamin Chew Benjamin Chew (November 19, 1722 – January 20, 1810) was a fifth-generation American, a Quaker-born legal scholar, a prominent and successful Philadelphia lawyer, slaveowner, head of the Pennsylvania Judiciary System under both Colony and Com ...

(1722–1810), American jurist *

Betty Chew Betty Chew Gek Cheng (; born 15 August 1964) is a Malaysian politician from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a component party of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) opposition coalition who served as Member of the Melaka State Legislative Assembly ( ...

(born 1964), Malaysian politician * Beverly Chew (1773–1851), American merchant and diplomat * Charles Chew (1922–1986), American politician * Henry F. Chew (1837–1918), American colonel in the American Civil War and New Jersey dentist * Chew Men Leong (), Singaporean civil servant and naval admiral * R. Preston Chew (1843–1921), Confederate officer in the American Civil War and West Virginia businessman * Samuel Chew (captain) ( – 1778), captain in the American Continental Navy * Samuel Chew (justice) (1699–1744), Chief Justice of colonial Delaware * Scott Chew, American politician in Utah * Sue Chew (), American politician in Idaho *

Chew Swee Kee Chew Swee Kee ( zh, c=周瑞麒, p=Zhōu Ruìqí; 15 May 1918 December 1985) was a Singaporean politician. A member of the political party, the Labour Front, Chew served as Minister of Education from 1955 to 1959. Early life Chew was born 15 May ...

(1918–1985), Singaporean politician

Musicians

* Hans Chew (born 1975), American pianist * Chew Jun Ru (), Singaporean ''erhu'' player *

Ray Chew Ray Chew is an American musician who specializes in keyboards and contemporary and orchestral arranging. He is the music director of ABC's Dancing with the Stars (2014–present). Chew was music director for Fox's American Idol from 2010 to 20 ...

(born ), American jazz musician *

Chew Sin Huey Chew Sin Huey (Shi Xin Hui; ; born 23 June 1981), also known as Sing Chew, is a Malaysian-born former singer based in Singapore, who was one of the five popular new talents emerged from the Channel U's popular singing talent show, Project Super ...

(born 1981), Malaysian pop singer

Sport

Chew Choon Eng Chew Choon Eng (born 28 May 1976) is a former Malaysian badminton player. Currently, he is coaching Malaysian professional pair consist of 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist, Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying and Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong. Career ...

(born 1976), Malaysian badminton player * Danny Chew (born 1962), American cyclist * Fleur Chew (born 1981), Australian rower * Jack Chew (1915–1984), English football full back *

Jackie Chew John Chew (13 May 1920 – 21 October 2002) was a footballer who played for Burnley, Bradford City and Darwen. He made more than 200 league appearances for Burnley side, scoring more than 40 goals. He played just one season with Bradford City, ...

(1920–2002), English football winger * Jennifer Chew (born 1983), American Paralympic wheelchair basketball player * Danny Chew Ji Xiang (born 1987), Singaporean football defender * Michael Chew (born 1962), Malaysian field hockey player *

Phillip Chew Phillip Hung Chew (born May 16, 1994) is an American badminton player. He won two gold medals in men's and mixed doubles at the 2015 Pan American Games. Chew also participated in the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. He won the 2021 Pa ...

(born 1994), American badminton player, brother of Ryan Chew * Chew Pok Cheong (born 1970), Malaysian cricketer *

Ryan Chew Ryan Chew (born August 12, 1996) is an American badminton player. He won the 2021 Pan Am Badminton Championships, 2021 Pan Am Championships doubles with his brother Phillip Chew. He trains at the Orange County Badminton Club, which is founded by ...

(born 1996), American badminton player, brother of Phillip Chew *

Chew Yiwei Chew Yiwei (born 16 October 1995 in Selangor) is a Malaysian former diver. He competed at the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and 2018, the Asian Games in 2014 and 2018, and the Southeast Asian Games in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021. Retirem ...

(born 1995), Malaysian diver

Other

Chew Choon Seng Chew Choon Seng () is the former chief executive officer of Singapore Airlines (SIA), the former Chairman of the Singapore Exchange and Singapore Tourism Board. Education After completing his degree in mechanical engineering from the University ...

(), Singaporean businessman *

Dennis Chew Dennis Chew Chong Kheng (born 15 August 1973), also known as Zhou Chongqing, is a Singaporean radio deejay, actor, variety show host and singer. Chew is known for playing Aunty Lucy, a character which requires him to cross-dress as a middle-a ...

(born 1973), Singaporean radio host * Donevan Chew (), Malaysian advertising director *

Elim Chew Elim Chew (born 1966) is the founder of the street wear brand, 77th Street (Streetwear Brand), 77th Street. Career Elim's first attempt into the retailing turned out to be a huge success in the retail scene. Prior to that, she was in Britain und ...

(born 1966), Singaporean clothing businesswoman * Emily Chew (), American ophthalmologist * Chew Gek Khim (born 1961), Singaporean businesswoman * Chew Hoong Ling (born 1980), Malaysian writer and inspirational speaker * John Chew (born 1947), Singaporean Anglican priest *

Paddy Chew Paddy Chew (; 29 March 1960 – 21 August 1999) was the first Singaporean person with HIV/AIDS to come out to the general public. Early life He attended St. Stephen's School and St. Patrick's School before becoming a flight steward. He worked ...

(1960–1999), Singaporean with AIDS *

Ron Chew Ron Chew (born Ronald A. Chew, May 17, 1953) is an American consultant and community organizer. Chew is a leader in the community based model of museum exhibit development. He lives in Seattle, Washington. Biography Chew was born in Seattle and at ...

(born 1953), American community organizer *

Ruth Chew Ruth Chew (April 8, 1920 – May 13, 2010) was an American Children's literature, children's author and illustrator of over 30 children's books, most of which were juvenile fantasy. The books were early-reader chapter books and usually center ...

(1920–2010), American children's writer

References

{{surname English-language surnames Chinese-language surnames Hokkien-language surnames Korean-language surnames Multiple Chinese surnames