Surname · Korean origin
Lee
Meaning
The surname Lee means Plum tree (李).
Origin
Korean
Type
clan name
Variants
3
The origin of the surname Lee
Lee is written with the hanja 李, “plum tree.” Romanized as Lee, Yi or Rhee.
What kind of surname is Lee?
Lee is a clan name surname. It belongs to the Korean naming tradition — you can read how Korean surnames were formed on our Korean last names page.
Variants & spellings of Lee
You may also see this surname written as:
- Yi
- Rhee
- Ri
Other Korean surnames
Other clan name surnames
Family names formed the same way, from different cultures.
Frequently asked questions
What does the surname Lee mean?
The surname Lee means Plum tree (李). Lee is written with the hanja 李, “plum tree.” Romanized as Lee, Yi or Rhee.
Where does the surname Lee come from?
Lee is a surname of Korean origin.
What kind of surname is Lee?
Lee is a clan name surname.
What are other spellings of Lee?
Variant spellings of Lee include Yi, Rhee, Ri.
What are other Korean surnames?
Other Korean surnames include Ahn, Baek, Choi, Han, Hong, Hwang.