Chinese surname · rank 369
利
利 is read as lì.
lì
Simplified and traditional 利
gains, advantage, profit, merit
Earth
Time: Xia-dynasty tradition, c. 2070-1600 BCE
Place: Li Zhen / Laozi lineage tradition; Chu Li fief around Lichuan, Hubei, or Lizhou/Jiameng near Guangyuan, Sichuan; ancient Li state tradition; Northern Wei Chili-to-Li changed-surname layer; Henan commandery tradition
Origin note
利 as a surname is not explained from the everyday meaning profit or advantage. One traditional layer treats it as an ancestor-name surname from Li Zhen, remembered as an ancestor of Laozi; descendants are said to have taken the Li character from that name. A second layer is a fief-name surname: a Chu prince or noble held a fief called Li, with sources placing that tradition either around Lichuan in Hubei or at Lizhou/Jiameng near Guangyuan in Sichuan, and descendants used the fief name. A third layer preserves an ancient Li-state account linked in later surname books with Wei/-descendant lore. A fourth layer records a Northern Wei Xianbei changed-surname tradition, in which Chili became Li. The page keeps these as parallel traditions rather than forcing one exclusive founder.
Historical figures
Historical figures to enrich
This surname page is ready for a fame-ranked figure list. Later passes can add generals, poets, rulers, artists, scholars and modern public figures with source links.