Surname Overview
The surname Li is pronounced lì and is a currently rare Han Chinese surname.
Li Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 43,149Li / Li
Origins
The surname mainly derives from the Jiang surname: a state called Li existed before the Qin period, and its descendants took the state name as their surname. Another account traces it to the descendants of the Di-Li clan.
Historical Records
Documentary Attestations
The Zhongwen Da Zidian, citing the Xingyuan, records the Li surname; the Xingshi Kaolüe, citing the Xingshi Xunyuan, states that it descended from the Di-Li clan.
Migration and Distribution
Distribution
The Li surname is widely distributed but has few bearers. It is currently found in Wuqing in Tianjin; Laoting and Jingxian in Hebei; and Changle, Dongping, Pingyi, and Pingdu in Shandong.
Notable People
Historical Figures
Li Wen was the governor of Wei Commandery during the Han dynasty, and Li E was a Qing-dynasty literary figure.
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