User talk:Blueboar/drafts - Li (surname)

Li is the anglicized transcription for several distinct Chinese surnames (sometimes transcribed as "Lee"). In Chinese these surnames are distinguished by different characters, with different meanings and different pronunciations:

Li (李)
This surname ((Hangul: 이/리) is widespread in China, with about 7.9 percent of the Chinese population possessing this family name. The variant is the most common surname for the Hakka Chinese (2007).

It is also a Korean surname that uses the same Chinese character, often romanized as Lee, Rhee, Rhe, Jee, Yi, or Yee, which is the second most common Korean surname after Kim. Both the Korean family name, Lee, and the Vietnamese family name, Lý, was derived from the same Chinese character as the Chinese surname.

In Taiwan and Hong Kong, and in many overseas Chinese communities, the spelling Lee is common. In Indonesia, the spelling Lie is used because of Dutch writing system influence. There are numerous regional Chinese pronunciations of 李 e.g. Lì (Sichuan), Lei5 (Cantonese), etc.

History
According to the Yuan He Xing Zuan (元和姓纂), the Chinese dictionary of surnames, the Li surname has a long history which goes back to Emperor Zhuanxu who was the first Li and lived before 2000 BC.

Li was the royal surname of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). About 15 different emperors had the Li surname. Li Yuan was the founder of the Tang Dynasty, which lasted from AD 618 to 907. During this time, Chinese culture and arts flourished and the country prospered tremendously.

The family of Chinese leader Mao Zedong seems to have had a special fondness for the Li family name. Mao himself went by the name Li Desheng for a period of time during the Long March, while his daughters are named Li Min and Li Na, while Jiang Qing, his last wife, used the name Li Runqing in her final years. Mao Yuanxin was named Li Shi while working in a factory after his release from prison.

People

 * Li Cairong, a woman who lived longer than 100 years
 * Li Cunxin, dancer
 * Li Hongzhi, founder of Falun Gong
 * Li Shizhen, Ming dynasty physician and pharmacologist
 * Li Yingshi, Chinese author
 * Susur Lee, chef
 * Witness Lee, Christian minister

In history

 * Li Jing (李靖), general of Shang Dynasty on mythology of Chinese
 * Li Er (李耳) the Laozi, Taoism thinker, born on Henan
 * Lu Su (李斯), born on Chu (state) in [Henan]], move to Qin (state)
 * Li Guang (李廣), General of Han Dynasty, born on Longxi
 * Li Ling (李陵), General of Han Dynasty
 * Li Yannian (李延年), musician at Han Dynasty
 * Li Mi (李密, 224-287), Minister of Shu Han
 * Li Te (李特), founder of Cheng Han, father of Li Xiong, Di people
 * Li Mi (李謐), Minister of Northern Wei at Southern_and_Northern_Dynasties 439~589 AD
 * Li Yuan (李淵) the Emperor Gaozu of Tang, founder of Tang Dynasty
 * Li Shimin (李世民) the Emperor Taizong of Tang, emperor of Tang Dynasty
 * Li Shiji the Xu Shiji (徐世勣), general of Tang Dynasty
 * Li Jing (李靖), general of Tang Dynasty, colleague of Xu Shiji (徐世勣), born in Xian
 * Li Bai (李白), poet of Tang Dynasty, born in Sichuan
 * Li Mi (李密, 582-619), general of Sui Dynasty, other name Liu Zhiyuan
 * Li Mi (李密, ~754), general at Tang Dynasty the Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
 * Li Kaigu (李楷固), adopted son of Li Jinzhong the Khitan ruler
 * Li Keyong (李克用), founder of Later Tang Dynasty,  son of Zhuye Chixin the leader of Xueyantuo
 * Ly Thai To (李公蘊), founder of Lý Dynasty
 * Ly Long Tuong (李龍祥), prince of Lý Dynasty

Government, politics, military

 * Andrew Li, CBE, GBM, JP, Hong Kong's first Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal
 * Lee Hsien Loong, current Prime Minister of Singapore
 * Lee Kuan Yew, former Prime Minister of Singapore
 * Lee Teng-hui, former President of Taiwan
 * Li Ao, Taiwanese writer, ROC legislator
 * Li Changchun, member of the CCP Politburo
 * Li Dazhao, co-founder of the CPC
 * Li Guofan, politician
 * Li Hongzhang, Qing Dynasty statesman and military general
 * Li Hua, government official, Guangdong Province, PRC.
 * Li Lu, businessman, dissident, former student protestor
 * Li Peng, former Premier of the People's Republic of China
 * Li Keqiang, current Premier of the People's Republic of China
 * Li Ruihuan, PRC politician
 * Li Rusong, Ming Dynasty military commander
 * Li Si, Chancellor of the Qin Dynasty
 * Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of Tang
 * Li Imperial clan of the Tang Dynasty
 * Li Tien-Min, Republic of China legislator and historian
 * Li Xiannian, former President of the People's Republic of China
 * Li Zicheng, Ming Dynasty rebel leader
 * Li Zongren, vice-president and acting president of the Republic of China, general
 * Lý Thái Tổ, Vietnamese emperor who founded Lý Dynasty and established the city of Hanoi in 1010

Entertainment

 * Christopher Lee, Singaporean actor
 * Ang Lee, Taiwanese film director
 * Angelica Lee, Malaysian Chinese film actress and pop singer
 * Brandon Lee, Chinese-American actor
 * Bruce Lee, Hong Kong actor, martial artist
 * Lee Hoi-chuen, Cantonese Opera singer and actor, Bruce Lee's father
 * Coco Lee, Chinese-American singer and actress
 * Danny Lee Sau-Yin, Hong Kong actor
 * Dick Lee, Japanese-based Singaporean entertainer
 * Hacken Lee, Hong Kong-based Cantopop singer and lyricist, actor
 * Herman Li, guitarist from DragonForce
 * Lee Hyori, Famous Singer/Performer in South Korea
 * Jet Li, Chinese martial artist, actor
 * Leanne Li, Miss Chinese Vancouver 2004 winner, Miss Chinese International 2005 winner, Hong Kong actress
 * Lee Jin-Ki, Famous Singer, member of Korean boy band group SHINee (also known as Onew)
 * Lee Soon-kyu, Famous Singer, member of Korean girl group Girls' Generation (also known as Sunny)
 * Lee Jun Ho, Famous Singer, member of Korean boy band group 2PM
 * Lee Chang-Min, Famous Ballad Singer, member of Korean boy band group 2AM
 * Lee San-San, 1996 Miss Hong Kong Pageant winner
 * Lee Tae Min, Famous Singer and member of Korean boy band group SHINee
 * Levy Li, Miss Malaysia Universe 2008
 * Li Bingbing, Chinese actress
 * Li Han Hsiang, Chinese film director
 * Li Ning, Chinese Olympic gymnast and entrepreneur
 * Li Yong, Chinese television host
 * Li Yundi, pianist
 * Lee Min Ho, Model/Actor from South Korea
 * Stacey Li, pianist

Literature, writing, journalism

 * Li Bai, Tang Dynasty poet
 * Li Qingzhao, Song Dynasty female writer and poet
 * Li Shangyin, Tang Dynasty poet
 * Li Yu, also known as Li Houzhu, poet and last ruler of the Southern Tang kingdom
 * Li Yu, author, dramatist, producer, director and bookshop owner

Business

 * David Li, GBS, JP, OBE, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Bank of East Asia in Hong Kong
 * Lee Hsien Yang, chairman of Fraser and Neave Limited
 * Lee Kai-Fu, founding president of Google China
 * Lee Shau Kee, Hong Kong billionaire businessman
 * Li Ka Shing, prominent Hong Kong billionaire businessman
 * Li Ning, former Olympic gymnast turned entrepreneur, founder and current chairman of Li-Ning Company Limited
 * Martin Lee, vice-chairman and managing director of Henderson Land Development
 * Lee Xi Wen, Malaysian businessman
 * Richard Li, Chairman and Executive Director of PCCW
 * Victor Li, Hong Kong businessman
 * Lee Kong Chian, one of the founders of Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) and its chairman from 1938 until his death in 1967.
 * Lee Choon Seng, another former chairman of OCBC

Scholars, academics, scientists

 * Arthur Li, surgeon and former Vice-Chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
 * Henry Chang-Yu Lee, forensic scientist
 * Lee Tsung-dao, Nobel physicist
 * Lee Wen Ho, Chinese-American physicist
 * Lee Yuan T., Taiwan Nobel chemist (was US citizen when receiving Nobel Prize).
 * Yuk-Wing Lee, MIT professor of Electrical Engineering
 * Li Choh-Ming, Hong Kong economist and educator
 * Li Er also known as Laozi, Zhou Dynasty philosopher
 * Li Fuk, executive manager in the U.S. Space Program
 * Yueh-Ting Lee, Social psychologist
 * Gary Yia Lee, Hmong anthropologist
 * Li Lei, Genetic Scientist
 * Li Xiang, Cluster Chemist
 * Li Zehou, contemporary scholar and academic, critic of the P.R.C.
 * Choh Hao Li, Biochemist

Sport

 * Li Na, professional tennis player
 * Lee Chong Wei, professional badminton player
 * Li Huirong, Chinese long and triple jumper

Fictional people

 * Lee Bailong, Shaman King character
 * Lee Diendou, Fighter's History character
 * Li Kohran, Sakura Wars character
 * Meiling Li; Syaoran Li; Yelan Li, Cardcaptor Sakura characters
 * Li Xiangying, Angel Heart character
 * Li Ren, Hanasakeru Seishounen characters
 * Lenalee; Komui Lee, D.Gray-man characters
 * Li Xiaoyao, Chinese Paladin character
 * Lee, East of Eden character
 * Miss Lee, Missee Lee character
 * Lee Chaolan, Tekken Character
 * Li Kouyuu, Saiunkoku Monogatari character
 * Rock Lee, Naruto character
 * Li Mei, Mortal Kombat character

Lí (黎)
This surname is most common in Central and South China (including Hong Kong) where it is transliterated as "Lai" (from the Cantonese language), and is one of the four most common surnames among ethnic Vietnamese, which in the Vietnamese language is Lê. It is No.103 in the New Baijiaxing, but Zhongguo Renming Dacidian lists as No.262 in the original Song Dynasty Baijiaxing.

It is also commonly spelled Ly, Lai, or Lei. The name is transliterated as Ryeo or Yeo in Korean.

in the South China, Li (黎) and Lai (赖) has same dialect a Lai. so, some Chinese Li (黎) family from Lai (赖) family because with common dialect the Lai, Lei. Chinese Lai (赖) family founded from jI (姬) family, Jiang (姜) family and, unknown south Chinese.

in the Vietnamese, some Chinese Li (黎) family change surname to Hà/Hồ (胡). later they family open a Hồ dynasty. Chinese text "Ha" (胡) has meaning alike Xianbei, nor just dialect Ha is common of the Xia.

Origin

 * in the around of Yangtze_River, old Jiuli (九黎) people get surname Li (黎) with tribe name.
 * in Xia Dynasty period, Emperor Yao's Posterity get surname Li (黎) on Guli (state) (古黎国) with state name.
 * In Shang Dynasty period, Various Chinese get surname Li (黎) on Li (state) (黎国) with state name.
 * in the Southern_and_Northern_Dynasties period, Xianbei people get surname Li (黎).
 * in the Taiping_Rebellion, Unknown Lai (赖) family change surname to Li (黎) with similar dialect.
 * in the Qing Dynasty period, Taiwan's Taokas people get surname Li (黎) from Qing the Government.

People

 * Leon Lai (黎明), Chinese actor
 * Li Yüan-hung, provisional ROC president
 * Jimmy Lai, founder of Apple Daily
 * Gigi Lai, singer and TVB actress
 * Leon Lai, Cantopop singer
 * Lai Lok-yi, Hong Kong actor
 * Lai Man-Wai, film director known as Father of Hong Kong Cinema
 * Kitson Lai, founder of Bloggerdaddy.com
 * Wayne Lai, Hong Kong actor

Lì (利)
This surname is number 364 of the 504 surnames in the Bǎijiāxìng (or Hundred Family Surnames). In Mandarin Chinese it is distinguished from other similar-sounding family names Li by a declining fourth tone pronunciation. The character has the meaning of "profit."

In Hong Kong it is written Lee in English, and pronounced Lei (6th tone, 利) in Cantonese, likewise and in many overseas Chinese communities, the mainly Cantonese spelling "Lee" is common.

Origin
According to traditional Chinese sources the Li (利) family originated from Gaoyang (高阳). At the end of the Shang Dynasty, "Li Zheng" (利徵) was a Minister of King Zhou of Shang, and after the fall of th Shang Dynasty, his child "Li Zhen" (利貞) and wife Qihe (契和) emigrated to Chen (state). Some Li (利) family members changed their surname to the more common Li (李). Other Chinese Li (利) families have other origins such as:


 * in Chu (state), Mi (芈) family get surname Li (利) with public office.
 * in Jin (Chinese state) (晋国), Ji (姬) family get surname Li (利).
 * in Qin Dynasty, Public Officer has surname Li (利).
 * in Han Dynasty, Public Officer has surname Li (利).
 * in Southern_and_Northern_Dynasties, Xianbei noble get surname Li (利).
 * in Southern_and_Northern_Dynasties, Various Xianbei people get surname Li (利).
 * in Qing Dynasty, Manchu people get surname Li (利).<

People

 * Matteo Ricci (利瑪竇), Christian missionary to China, took the name Lì for phonetic reasons.
 * Hysan Lee (利希慎), (1879-1928) Hong Kong land developer
 * Vivienne Poy (born 利德蕙), Canadian politician, granddaughter of Hysan Lee
 * Nina Li Chi (利智), wife of actor Jet Li
 * Guang Li (利光宇), Chinese Australian actor
 * Sir Quo-wei Lee (利國偉), CBE, Hong Kong banker

Lì (厲 or 厉)
This surname (厲, simplified 厉, Yale lai6) is a Chinese surname. It is name 247 of the Baijiaxing.

In Mandarin Chinese it is distinguished from some other similar-sounding family names Li by a declining fourth tone pronunciation, though the family name Lì (利) is the same tone in Mandarin. The character has the ancient meaning of "whetstone" (砺) or "grinder," but this is only one of the origins of the name.

The state of Li (厲) wa founded in Sui County, Hubei in the Ancient China times, many chinese get surname from state name.

Some families named Li (厲) are originally members of the Li (李) family.

Origin

 * in Sui County, Hubei the Li (state) (厲), Various Chinese get surname Li (厲) with state name.
 * in Zhou Dynasty, noble get surname Li (厲) with posthumous name.
 * in Eastern Wu, Sun (孙) family get surame Li (厲) at Three_Kingdoms. by Book of China, Sun Quan family from Gui (surname).
 * in Tang Dynasty, Li (李) family get surame Li (厲).

People

 * Li Yining (zh:厉以宁, 1930), Chinese economist
 * Li Wuwei (zh:厉无畏, 1942), Chinese party official
 * zh:Category:厉姓

Lì (栗)
This surname (栗) is No.249 in the Baijiaxing.

Origin

 * the Lilu (栗陆) the Feng (风) family get get surname Li (栗).
 * the Shang Dynasty lord's Posterity get surname Li (栗) on Xiayi County (夏邑县).
 * the Tang Dynasty the Emperor Xuanzong of Tang period, Li (李) family change surname to Li (栗).
 * the Song (宋) family change surname to Li (栗).
 * the Manchu people use surname Li (栗).

People
The name is not common, with only 300,000 people with the surname Li (chestnut) in China today.
 * Li Zhanshu (栗战书, 1950) chief of the General Office of the Communist Party of China.
 * zh:Category:栗姓