Meaning: The surname 利 ('Lì') signifies 'benefit' or 'advantage'. Its origins are diverse, including derivations from the姬 ('Jī') clan during the Spring and Autumn period, where descendants of Laozi (Li Er) adopted the surname. Another theory posits that 利 originates from the 芈 ('Mǐ') clan, named after the fiefdom of a大夫 ('Dàifu', a high-ranking official) in the State of Chu. Additionally, some 利 surnames trace back to the official title 利氏官 ('Lìshì Guān') in the Zhou Dynasty, or result from surname changes among minority ethnic groups.
Sorting of Chinese Surnames:No.374 Sung version of the Hundred Surnames: NO.364 place
Li Deng (利登)
a Southern Song Dynasty poet, known for his work 'Bei Gao' and his official service as Ningdu Wei.
Li Ren (利仁)
A scholar from Dongguan during the Ming Dynasty, styled Wanrong, who passed the imperial examination in 1486 and served as a professor in Huizhou Prefecture.
Li Bin (利宾)
a Ming Dynasty official who served as a provincial administrator and authored 'Huan You Cao'.
'利' is a surname that symbolizes prosperity and benefit. Its origins are diverse, stemming from ancient Chinese clans and even official titles from the Zhou Dynasty.