History of your Surname
Get access to China family records.Start a free trial

China Family History

China Name Meaning

Italian: from the feminine form of the personal name Chino . Italian (Sicily): nickname from chinu china ‘full of water bloated fat’. English: probably a variant of the extinct name Chiney through association with the country-name.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Chino, Cina, Chica, Bina, Chia, Cira, Cino, Fina, Child, Dina

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the China family from?

You can see how China families moved over time by selecting different census years. The China family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most China families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there were 5 China families living in South Carolina. This was about 71% of all the recorded China's in USA. South Carolina had the highest population of China families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the China surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your China ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Helper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named China. 25% of China men worked as a Laborer and 17% of China women worked as a Helper. Some less common occupations for Americans named China were Clerk and Dressmaker. .

View Census Data for China | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    25%
  • Waiter
    14%
  • Farmer
    10%
  • Clerk
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Helper
    17%
  • Pottery Maker
    17%
  • Laborer
    17%
  • Dressmaker
    14%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What China family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 7,000 census records available for the last name China. Like a window into their day-to-day life, China census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for China

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name China. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all China immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 19,000 military records available for the last name China. For the veterans among your China ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all China military records

You've only scratched the surface of China family history

Discover More

What is the average China lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, China life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1985. The average life expectancy for China in 1944 was 32, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for China

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the China family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the China last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial