{"id":891,"date":"2020-06-29T12:00:55","date_gmt":"2020-06-29T11:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mychinaroots.com\/?p=891"},"modified":"2022-11-08T06:35:27","modified_gmt":"2022-11-08T06:35:27","slug":"li-family-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mychinaroots.com\/blog\/surnames\/li-family-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Li Family History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Is your last name spelled Lee, Lei, or Lie? If so, there\u2019s a good chance that the original Chinese surname of your ancestors is \u674e, pronounced Li in Mandarin. Long regarded as the most noble Chinese surname, Li is the second most common surname in China after Wang. If you’re a Li, you share the same last name as nearly 100 million people, close to a third of the U.S. population!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, the most popular first name for Li boys has been Wei \u4f1f, meaning “awesome” or “powerful.” There are over a quarter million Li Weis in China to date, and almost as many girls named Li Xiuying \u79c0\u82f1, meaning “elegant” and \u201cbrave.\u201d Within China, the surname Li occurs most frequently in the southwest and northeast regions, with the highest concentration in Henan province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Looking for your Li family history book?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Browse our collection of Li zupus<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Search for a Li ancestor in our database<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What are the origins of Li?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The surname Li has evolved over time from the ancient Ying \u8d62, to the honorary Li \u7406, to today\u2019s Li \u674e.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to tradition, Li is derived from the royal house of Ying, which descended from the emperor Zhuanxu, grandson of the mythical Yellow Emperor. After General Gaoyao, a descendant of Zhuanxu, was appointed to serve as Minister of Justice, or Dali \u5927\u7406, his descendants adopted \u7406 as their surname, meaning \u201creason.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many tales about how \u7406 (\u201creason\u201d) became \u674e (\u201cplum\u201d). The most common story begins with the execution of Li Zheng, a minister who opposed the Shang dynasty King Zhou, a cruel ruler known for squandering the kingdom\u2019s wealth on a lake of wine and \u201cmeat forest\u201d strung with human flesh. Li Zheng’s wife Qiheshi and son Li Lizhen escaped to the west of Henan, where they survived by eating plums. In gratitude, Li Lizhen changed his surname to \u674e, a character meaning \u201cplum\u201d with the same pronunciation as \u7406.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another story traces the Li surname origins to the founder of Taoism, Li Er \u674e\u8033, better known as Lao Tzu or Laozi. Whatever its roots may be, the number of people named Li skyrocketed during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). Not only did all twenty emperors share the surname Li, the rulers would bestow the imperial surname upon generals, officials, and their clans as a sign of favor.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The first 88 generations of Li ancestors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Did you know?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li is one of seven Chinese surnames adopted by the Kaifeng Jews, a small Jewish community in Henan province that possibly dates back to the arrival of Jewish merchants in the 9th century. Many Lis served as rabbis, since they originally came from the Levy (Levi) family. According to Old Testament tradition, the Levi family had the priestly duty to oversee sacrificial offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Image: The NY Jewish Week<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Li<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Chinese<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Meaning<\/td>Plum<\/td><\/tr>
Symbols<\/td>\u4f86\/\u6728 (\u201cwheat\u201d or \u201ctree\u201d) + \u5b50 <\/td><\/tr>
Legendary Ancestor<\/td>Yellow Emperor, Lao Tzu <\/td><\/tr>
Founding Ancestor<\/td>Li Lizhen \u7406\u5229\u8d1e<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"World<\/a>
Global distribution map of Li<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Spelling Variations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Dialect<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Cantonese<\/td>Lee, Lei, Li <\/td><\/tr>
Hainanese<\/td>Lee <\/td><\/tr>
Hakka<\/td>Li<\/td><\/tr>
Hokkien<\/td>Dee, Dy, Lie<\/td><\/tr>
Mandarin<\/td>Li<\/td><\/tr>
Teochew<\/td>Lee<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
By Country<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Australia<\/td>Goon Ick<\/td><\/tr>
Indonesia<\/td>Lee, Li, Lie, Liedarto, Lienata, Lievai, Lijanto, Liman<\/td><\/tr>
Jamaica<\/td>Lee, Li<\/td><\/tr>
Korea<\/td>Lee, Rhee, Yi<\/td><\/tr>
Malaysia
Singapore<\/td>		Lee, Li<\/td><\/tr>
USA (Hawaii)<\/td>Akaka, Kealoha, Leihulu<\/td><\/tr>
Vietnam<\/td>L\u00fd<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Who are famous Lis in modern history?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From politicians and poets, to philosophers and kung-fu masters: there’s nothing that Lis can’t do. The most famous branch, the Longxi Li clan, has produced 67 emperors, 91 prime ministers, 86 generals, and 16 revolutionary leaders!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the most prominent Lis in modern history include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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