History
The ancestors of the Teochew people moved to present-day Chaoshan as refugees from central and northern China due to various reasons. Historical texts suggest this was likely due to war and famine in the region. The Teochews, along with the Hokkien people, migrated from the Central Plains and Yellow River region, mainly from the Henan, Shaanxi and Shandong provinces. This is evident in several genetic studies, which show a strong relationship and ancestry based on common Y-chromosome patterns and higher prevalence of esophageal cancer. Han Chinese from the Taihang region of Henan are likely the ancestral population for both Fujian Han (i.e. Hokkien people) and the Chaoshan Han (i.e. the Teochew people).
The Teochew language was officially established sometime around the Tang and Song periods, before becoming a mature and well-established language sometime during late Ming / early Qing period. From approximately 900 AD – 1600 AD, as a result of various wars and political instability in the north, there was a large influx of Han Chinese from the north and central provinces to the Chaoshan region. This demographic shift is reflected in genetic studies, which show that the Teochew retain a high proportion of Central and Northern ancestry like the Hakka. Genetically, they cluster on the same stratum as central Chinese provinces, such as Hunan and Hubei.
The Teochew were often called Fulao (Hoklo) because they came mostly passed through Fujian during migration, with some well-maintained language and customs from ancient China. As was recorded in pedigrees and ancient inscriptions, one of the two groups of those who originally migrated to the capital city of Fujian later moved to Putian staying for at most one or two generations before being pressured to move to parts of Chaoshan instead in batches during the Tang Dynasty, genetically intermixing with the local people there.
The Teochew people are mistakenly referred to by the Cantonese as "Hoklo", literally meaning "men of Fujian", although the term "Teochew" was used in the Straits Settlements in the 19th century and early 20th century. "Teochew" is derived from Teochew prefecture (Chaozhou Fu), the departmental city where they originate.
Teochew immigration to Singapore
The writings of Stamford Raffles and William Farquhar indicate that the British found Temenggong Abdul Rahman with 400 to 500 residents in Singapore in January 1819. Another member of the 1819 expedition party, Captain John Crawford, recalled in his diary an encounter with "upwards of 100" of Chinese. British colonial documentations revealed that Temenggong Abdul Rahman had provided these Chinese who were Teochews the cost and expenses of opening gambier plantations at Mount Stamford (now Pearl's Hill) prior to British arrival. He had also "in some instances" advanced money to the Teochew cultivators on the understanding he would be repaid in the form of gambier or other produce. Farquhar had the impressions that the Temenggong's interests in these plantations were represented by a brother-in-law of his named Baba Ketchil and the first Captain China of Singapore, a Teochew merchant named Tan Heng Kim (陈亨钦), was "one of the principal persons concerned". Based on Teochew oral traditions in Singapore published by Phua Chye Long (潘醒农) in Teo-chews in Malaya (马来亚潮侨通鉴) in 1950, the first Teochews in Singapore were led by Tan Heng Kim, who was from Siam, and a second merchant named Heng Hong Sung (王丰顺) from Ampou town in Chaozhou, China. Together, they founded the Yueh Hai Ching Temple on the south bank of the Singapore River.
From the 19th century, significant numbers of Teochew people left their homeland for Singapore and a new life. Early Teochew settlers could trace their origins to eight counties/prefectures (潮州八邑): Chao'an, Chenghai, Chaoyang, Jieyang, Raoping, Puning, Huilai and Nan'ao. In addition to these new immigrants from the port of Swatow (Shantou), Teochew immigrants from Siam and the Riau Islands also began settling in Singapore after 1819.
Today, Teochew language is the second-most spoken Sinitic language in Singapore. Teochews are the second-largest Chinese dialect group in Singapore, accounting for approximately 19.4% of the Chinese population according to the 2020 Population Census.
Teochew immigration to Thailand
Teochew Chinese form the largest Chinese subgroup in Thailand, accounting for more than half of the Thai‑Chinese population. Originating from southern China, particularly the Teochew region of Guangdong, they migrated to Thailand over several centuries. Major waves occurred during the Ayutthaya period and again in the 19th and early 20th centuries, driven by poverty, famine, and conflict in their homeland. Upon arrival, Teochew migrants settled mainly in coastal and riverine market towns, where they became early pioneers in trade and agriculture. Many specialized in fishing, rice farming, and salt production, gradually establishing themselves as influential merchant communities, especially in Bangkok.
Their cultural impact on Thailand has been profound. Teochew culinary traditions helped shape Thai cuisine, especially street food, while Teochew words entered everyday Thai vocabulary. For example, the Thai word for soy sauce, sii‑íu (ซีอิ๊ว), is directly derived from Teochew. Its pronunciation closely matches si⁷ iu⁵ (豉油) in the Teochew dialect. Over generations, the community has largely assimilated into Thai society, yet many families continue to maintain aspects of their heritage. The Teochew dialect remains widely used in business networks and community life. Today, the Teochew‑Thai population stands as a cornerstone of Thailand’s social and economic landscape, contributing significantly to commerce, culture, and the country’s modern identity.
Teochew in Taiwan
Most of the Teochew descendants in Taiwan have already been "hokkienized" ("hoklonized"). They speak the Taiwanese Hokkien language instead of Teochew, but some Teochew are still in Chaozhou township, in Pingtung County.
A 1926 Japanese census found that 134,800 people in Taiwan were of Teochew ancestry.[page needed]
