Cha () is a Korean family name.
Clan The Cha () clan, which takes Yeonan () as its main branch, is descended from an ancient Chinese emperor (姓 was 姬, 諱 was 軒轅). The origin of the Cha clan in Korea dates back to when Emperor's descendant Sa-sin-gap () fled to ancient Joseon from China, settling down in Pyongyang under Iltosan (), and changing his name to Wang-jo-myeong (). 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.
"In the early Silla period, Cha Mu-Il, who served as Prime Minister (승상), had eight sons. The seventh son, Cha Shin-Eul (본명: JU-RIM, 別名: 車神乙), inherited the Cha family lineage. In later generations, the family produced 25 Prime Ministers, establishing the foundation of a prestigious aristocratic clan."
Notable people with the surname Cha Bum-kun (born 1953), South Korean football manager Cha Bumseok (1924–2006), South Korean playwright and director Cha Chol-ma (born 1956), North Korean businessman Cha Chung-hwa (born 1980), South Korean actress Cha Dong-min (born 1986), South Korean retired taekwondo practitioner Cha Du-ri (born 1980), German-born South Korean professional football manager and former player Cha Gi-suk (1986–2021), South Korean professional footballer Cha Hak-yeon (stage name N, born 1990), South Korean singer, member of boy band VIXX Cha Han-sik (born 1965), South Korean runner Cha Hong (born 1981), South Korean hairdresser Hugh Cha (born 1985), Korean American actor, singer, dancer Cha Hui-rim (born 1953), North Korean politician Cha Hun (born 1994), South Korean singer and actor, member of band N.Flying Cha Hwa-yeon (born 1960), South Korean actress Cha Hyo-sim (born 1994), North Korean table tennis player Cha Hyon-hyang (born 1979), South Korean judoka Cha Hyun-ok (stage name Yuri, born 1976), South Korean singer Cha Hyung-won (1890–1972), South Korean living national treasure Cha In-ha (1992–2019), South Korean actor Cha In-pyo (born 1967), South Korean actor and director Cha Jae-goan (born 1972), South Korean wheelchair curler Cha Jae-kyung (born 1971), South Korean team handball player, Olympic gold medalist Cha Ji-ho (born 1983), South Korean retired footballer Cha Ji-yeon (born 1982), South Korean actress and singer Jimmy Cha (born 1951), South Korean professional Go and avid poker player Cha Jin-ho, South Korean wheelchair curler Cha Jong-hyok (born 1985), North Korean former professional footballer Cha Joo-young (born 1990), South Korean actress Cha Jun-hwan (born 2001), South Korean figure skater Cha Jung-won (born 1989), South Korean actress and model Car, the Garden (born Cha Jung-won, 1990), South Korean singer Cha Kum-chol (born 1987), North Korean weightlifter Cha Kwang-su (born 1979), North Korean wrestler Cha Kwi-hyun (born 1975), South Korean footballer Cha Kyung-bok (1937–2006), South Korean football manager Cha Meeyoung (born 1979), South Korean data scientist and professor Cha Min-kyu (born 1993), South Korean speed skater, Olympic silver medalist Cha Myong-jin (born 1959), South Korean activist and politician Cha Oh-yeon (born 1998), South Korean footballer Cha Seung-won (born 1970), South Korean actor Cha Seung-woo (born 1978), South Korean singer and actor Cha Soo-yeon (born 1981), South Korean actress Cha Soo-yong (born 1980), South Korean para table tennis player, Paralympic silver medalist Baro (entertainer) (born Cha Sun-woo, 1992), South Korean entertainer, member of boy band B1A4 Steph Cha (born 1986), Korean American novelist and fiction writer Cha Tae-hyun (born 1976), South Korean actor Cha Tae-sung (1934–2006), South Korean footballer Theresa Hak Kyung Cha (1951–1982), South Korean novelist Victor Cha (born 1960), American political scientist Virginia Cha, American retired news anchor Vivian Cha (born 1993), South Korean model, songwriter, record producer Cha Woo-chan (born 1987), South Korean former professional baseball player Cha Yong-hwa, North Korean artistic gymnast Cha Young-chul (born 1959), South Korean sport shooter, Olympic silver medalist Cha Young-hwan (born 1990), South Korean footballer Cha Young-hyun (born 2003), South Korean figure skater Cha Yu-ram (born 1987), South Korean professional pool player Cha Yun-hee (born 1986), South Korean retired footballer
Stage name Cha Do-jin (born Im Sung-kyu, 1983), South Korean actor Cha Eun-woo (born Lee Dong-min, 1997), South Korean singer and actor, member of boy band Astro Cha Mi-kyung (born Kim Mi-kyung, 1965), South Korean actress Cha Min-ji (born Kim Min-ji, 1990), South Korean actress Cha Seo-won (born Lee Chang-yeob, 1991), South Korean actor Cha Woo-min (born Kim Min-woo, 2000), South Korean actor Cha Ye-ryun (born Park Hyun-ho, 1985), South Korean actress
See also
Chal (name) Char (name) Korean clans of foreign origin
References