Surname Overview
Li is a currently uncommon surname, now generally written as “离”; “離” and “离” are treated as the same surname.
离 Surname
Population reference (not a current census): 4Origins
One account traces the Li surname to descendants of Li Lou, a clear-sighted man in the time of the Yellow Emperor; another says it derived from descendants of the Zhongli clan.
Historical Records
Documentary Attestations
The Zheng Tongzhi: Shizu Lue records the Li surname under surnames derived from personal names; the Xing shi kao lue cites the Lu Shi for its descent from Li Lou.
Migration and Distribution
Present Distribution
The Li surname is distributed in Xinzhou, Shanxi; Yuxian, Hebei; and Chengdu, Sichuan. Another record also lists Chengdu and Shangyu, Zhejiang.
Notable People
Historical Figures
Historical figures include Li Lou, a disciple of Mencius in the Warring States period; Li Chang, a Han-era Zhongshuzi; Li Ban of Later Yan; and Li Gui of the Song dynasty.
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Surname attestation references
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