Korean surname
Plum tree
Descriptive surname
Lee (이, also romanized as Yi or Rhee) is the second most common Korean surname and means 'plum tree'. It is associated with several major clans, including the Jeonju Yi clan that founded the Joseon dynasty. The name is borne by a large proportion of the Korean population.
It remains extremely frequent in Korea and among overseas Koreans. Different romanizations (Lee, Yi, Rhee) reflect the same Korean character 이.
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Plum tree. The Korean rendering of the same character as Chinese "Li" (plum); the surname of the Joseon dynasty's royal family.
Lee is a Korean-origin surname. Popularity varies widely by country and region, and the same surname can be common in one place and rare in another.
Yes. Surnames, especially occupational and descriptive ones like this, were often adopted independently by many unrelated families who happened to share a trade, appearance, or location.
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