李LiSurname
Lǐ
Li (李) means 'plum' and is one of the most common Chinese surnames. It represents resilience and sweetness, as the plum blossom blooms even in harsh winter.
Lǐ
Mainland China · Taiwan
Lee
Guangdong · Hong Kong
Li
Fujian · Taiwan · SE Asia
Li
Meizhou · Taiwan · SE Asia
Population Ranking
#2
Estimated Over 100 million people
Position among top 100 Chinese surnames
Geographic Distribution
Henan, Sichuan, Shandong, Guangdong
Five Element Analysis
Wood
growth, vitality, and kindness
Origin & Evolution
From Chu State royalty to global diaspora — a 3,000-year journey
Zhou Dynasty
周朝·c. 1046 – 256 BC
Originated from the Li (理, 'justice') clan, descendants of an ancient justice minister. Fleeing persecution during the Shang–Zhou transition, they survived on plums (李) and adopted the new surname Li.
Han Dynasty
汉朝·206 BC – 220 CE
The Longxi Li clan emerged as one of China's most prominent aristocratic lineages, producing generals, governors, and scholars across the empire.
Tang & Song
唐宋·618 – 1279
Imperial surname — Li Yuan founded the Tang dynasty (618), elevating Li to one of the most prestigious surnames. Tang poetry was crowned by Li Bai's immortal lyrics.
Ming & Qing
明清·1368 – 1912
The Li surname spread throughout China, particularly strong in Sichuan, Henan, and the southern provinces, with Li Shizhen compiling China's greatest medical text.
Modern Era
现代·1912 – Today
Second most populous surname in China with over 100 million people, and one of the most common surnames among the global Chinese diaspora.
Commandery
Longxi Commandery (陇西郡) — Modern-day Lanzhou area, Gansu Province
Hall Title
陇西堂 (Longxi Hall)
Longxi refers to the western Gansu region — the ancestral heartland of the Li clan, where they rose to power during the Tang Dynasty.
Ancestral Hall
Li Clan Ancestral Hall in Longxi, Gansu — Known as the ancestral homeland of the Li surname. The hall preserves genealogical records spanning over 2,000 years and hosts annual clan gatherings during the Qingming Festival.
Clan Motto & Family Tradition
以德立身，以学传家 — Establish oneself through virtue; pass down learning through the family.
Famous People with Surname Li
Li Bai
李白
701 – 762
PoetThe 'Immortal Poet' of the Tang dynasty, his lyric imagination and wine-soaked verses define the pinnacle of Chinese poetry.
Li Shimin
李世民
599 – 649
EmperorEmperor Taizong of Tang, architect of China's golden age whose reign became the model of virtuous Confucian rule.
Li Shizhen
李时珍
1518 – 1593
PhysicianAuthor of the 'Compendium of Materia Medica' (本草纲目), the most comprehensive pharmacological reference in pre-modern East Asia.
Tone Compatibility
Li (Lǐ) is a 3rd tone (dipping) surname. In Chinese naming, balanced tonal patterns create harmonious-sounding names.
Recommended Patterns
peaceful and bright
bright and grand
ambition that soars
Patterns to Avoid
Each digit is a tone (1=level, 2=rising, 3=dipping, 4=falling). The first is the surname tone; the next two are the given name's tones.
Example Names with Li
Your Li Family Legend
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