Li
A common Chinese surname with several possible written forms and long historical roots.
The #273 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 2,762 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Li is best known as a Chinese surname, written with several different characters that are all romanized as Li in English. The most common forms include 李, meaning “plum,” and also 厉/厲, 黎, and others in some families or dialect traditions. Because the same spelling can represent multiple Chinese surnames, the exact meaning depends on the character behind the family name.
History
Li is one of the most widespread surnames in China and among Chinese diaspora communities worldwide. The character 李 is traditionally linked to ancient noble lines and is famously associated with the Tang dynasty, whose imperial family used 李. In English-speaking countries, the surname often appears simply as Li, regardless of which Chinese character underlies it.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same English spelling Li can represent different Chinese surnames that are unrelated in origin but merged by romanization.
Notable people named Li
- Laozi (-579–-500)
- Li Bai (701–762)
- Lee Kuan Yew (1923–2015)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.