Li Surname

Surname Overview

Population Size

The Li surname accounts for about 7.94% of the Han Chinese population, and more than 100 million people worldwide are surnamed Li, making it one of China's largest surnames and a major surname globally.

Reference: 原创“李”姓是怎么来的？为什么会成第一大姓？历史上姓李的皇帝最多_李姓_李世民_姓氏

Origins

Origin Legend

A legend says that Li Zheng, an official in charge of law during the Shang dynasty, survived while fleeing by eating plums and changed his surname to “Li” in gratitude to the lifesaving plum tree; the truth of the legend is difficult to establish.

Reference: 原创“李”姓是怎么来的？为什么会成第一大姓？历史上姓李的皇帝最多_李姓_李世民_姓氏

Historical Records

Imperial Records

In Chinese history, emperors of 12 dynasties bore the surname Li, and the Li surname produced 58 emperors, making it one of the surnames with the most emperors among the Hundred Family Surnames.

Reference: 原创“李”姓是怎么来的？为什么会成第一大姓？历史上姓李的皇帝最多_李姓_李世民_姓氏

Migration and Distribution

Settlement in Jiangxi

During the Tang dynasty's crisis, Li Ya brought his four sons to settle in a small village in Jiangxi and became the village's first resident with the Li surname.

Reference: 原创“李”姓是怎么来的？为什么会成第一大姓？历史上姓李的皇帝最多_李姓_李世民_姓氏

Population Distribution in the Song and Ming Dynasties

In the Song dynasty, the Li population reached 5.6 million, 7.2% of the national population, making it the second-largest surname at the time. Hebei had the highest proportion of Li surnames, accounting for about 11.6% of the national Li population. In the Ming dynasty, the Li population fell to 5.1 million, 5.5% of the national population, while remaining the country's third-largest surname.

Reference: 原创“李”姓是怎么来的？为什么会成第一大姓？历史上姓李的皇帝最多_李姓_李世民_姓氏

Notable People

Notable Figures

Notable people with the Li surname include the Tang emperor Li Shimin, Li Qingzhao, Li Yu, Li Dazhao, and Li Ka-shing.

Reference: 原创“李”姓是怎么来的？为什么会成第一大姓？历史上姓李的皇帝最多_李姓_李世民_姓氏