Li Family#

Surname: Li, pronunciation: lì

Distribution of the Li Family#

According to the "Xing Zuan" (A Compilation of Surnames), "A prince of the Chu state was granted fiefdom in Li, and thus adopted the Li surname." The Li family's lineage traces back to Henan. The Henan commandery was established by Emperor Gao of Han. This area corresponds to present-day Luoyang City in Henan Province.

Origin of the Li Surname#

The Li surname has four possible origins:

1. During the Spring and Autumn period, a descendant of Laozi (also known as Lao Dan, with the given name Er and the courtesy name Boyang) of the Chu state adopted the character "Li" as his surname. In ancient times, during the Shang dynasty, a royal family member named Li Lizhen fled from the persecution of King Zhou of Shang and ate plums to satisfy his hunger under a plum tree; later, he changed his surname to Li Lizhen. Lao Dan, the eleventh-generation descendant of Li Lizhen, is revered as the founder of Taoism. Some descendants of Lao Dan took the character "Li" as their surname to commemorate their distant ancestor. Therefore, the Li, Li, and Li surname families share the same ancestor.

2. The Li surname also originated from the Mi surname, with the family name coming from the name of the fiefdom granted. During the Spring and Autumn period, a prince of the Chu state was granted the fiefdom of Li (located in present-day Guangyuan County, Sichuan Province), and his descendants adopted the name of the fiefdom as their surname.

3. Another origin is from the Ji surname, where the family name again came from the name of the fiefdom. During the Spring and Autumn period, a high-ranking official of the Jin state was granted fiefdom in Li, and his descendants adopted the name of the fiefdom as their surname.

4. The Li surname also resulted from the transformation of the Xianbei tribe's "Chi Li" surname during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. The Xianbei people of the Northern Wei dynasty gradually integrated with Han culture and changed their surname to Li.

Founder of the Li Surname: Li Zhen

The origin of the Li surname is closely related to the larger Li and Li family names. Not only do their pronunciations resemble each other, but they also share the same ancestor. According to the "Yuan He Xing Zuan," the Li surname traces back to Zhuanxu and his descendant Da Ye. Da Ye's daughter, Nü Hua, gave birth to Jiu Yao, who served as an official under Yao. Jiu Yao's descendant, Li Zhen, fled to the ruins of the Yi侯 and survived by eating the seeds of a tree, thus changing his surname to Li. The Li surname that is discussed in this text originates from Laozi, who is a famous philosopher whose influence on Chinese thought has lasted for thousands of years. Some descendants of Lao Dan adopted the character "Li" as their surname.

The Li family has primarily grown in the Henan region, making Henan the birthplace and ancestral home of the Li surname. The prominent Li family members lived in the Henan commandery (northeast of present-day Luoyang City, Henan Province). Therefore, Li Zhen is revered as the founder of the Li surname.

Migration and Distribution

The Li surname does not rank among the top 100 most common surnames in mainland China or Taiwan. The Li surname has three different origins: one related to Laozi, the founder of Taoism; another from a prince of the Chu state during the Spring and Autumn period; and a third from the Mi or Ji surnames, both originating from fiefdom names.

Common Couplets for Li Family Ancestral Halls

【Four-character Couplets for Li Family Ancestral Halls】

• Originating from Li; Lineage traced back to Henan. —— Anonymous
• Wise Prime Minister of Zhongshan; True Man of the Eastern Sea. —— Anonymous
• The Italian Matteo Ricci translated mathematical texts into Chinese. —— Anonymous
• A prominent scholar of the Song dynasty. —— Anonymous

【Six-character Couplets for Li Family Ancestral Halls】

• Matteo Ricci, a master of mathematics in the Ming dynasty. —— Anonymous
• A disciple of Lu Jiuyuan in the Song dynasty. —— Anonymous

The Li family has always been centered in the Henan region, making Henan the birthplace of the Li surname. Li Zhen is honored as the founder of the Li surname.