Surname · Korean origin
Lee
Meaning
The surname Lee means Plum tree (李).
Origin
Korean
Type
clan name
U.S. rank (2010)
#22
U.S. bearers (2010)
605,860
How common is it?
Lee is the 22nd most common surname in the United States (2010 U.S. Census), recorded for about 605,860 people.
The origin of the surname Lee
Lee is written with the hanja 李, “plum tree.” Romanized as Lee, Yi or Rhee.
How Korean surnames work
Korean surnames are few in number but shared by huge populations — Kim, Lee (Yi) and Park alone account for a large share of all Koreans. Each is written with a hanja (a Chinese-origin character) and is tied to a clan or lineage identified by an ancestral seat (bongwan). The surname comes first, before the given name, and Korean women traditionally keep their own surname after marriage.
Variants & spellings
- Yi
- Rhee
- Ri
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.
How common is the surname Lee in the United States?
Lee is the 22nd most common surname in the United States (2010 U.S. Census), recorded for about 605,860 people.