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Lee name meaning
Last Name
693k
in the U.S.
in 2010
693k
in the U.S.
in 2010
Girls
Boys
Meaning and Origin
What does the name Lee mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
Origin and Meaning of Lee
User Submitted Origins
English
62%
Chinese
18%
Korean
15%
American
3%
African
3%
User Submitted Meanings
- According to a user from Illinois, U.S., the name Lee is of English origin and means "A user from Ireland says the name Lee is of English origin and means 'Field'. A submission from United Kingdom says the name Lee means 'Gift of god'. A submission from Vermont, United States says the name Lee means 'Dweller by the wood clearing' and is of English origin".
- A submission from New Hampshire, U.S. says the name Lee means "Dweller by the wood clearing" and is of English origin.
- A submission from Australia says the name Lee means "Gift of God... put with Emma to spell 'Emma-Lee' you get universal gift of God" and is of Australian origin.
- A submission from the United Kingdom says the name Lee means "Gift of god".
- A submission from the United Kingdom says the name Lee means "Clearing;meadow".
- A user from Ukraine says the name Lee is of American origin and means "Fields".
- A user from Ireland says the name Lee is of English origin and means "Field".
- A submission from Australia says the name Lee means "medow".
- A user from Puerto Rico says the name Lee is of English origin and means "Eyes".
- According to a user from North Dakota, U.S., the name Lee means "Odin".
International Interest
Also see international interest
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
verb Lee
To lie; to speak falsely.
noun Lee
That which settles at the bottom, as of a cask of liquor (esp. wine); sediment; dregs; -- used now only in the plural.
Etymology: F. lie, perh. fr. L. levare to lift up, raise. Cf. Lever
noun Lee
Senses
- A sheltered place; esp., a place protected from the wind by some object; the side sheltered from the wind; shelter; protection; as, the lee of a mountain, an island, or a ship."We lurked under lee." [Morte d'Arthure.]"Desiring me to take shelter in his lee." [Tyndall.]
- [Naut] That part of the hemisphere, as one stands on shipboard, toward which the wind blows. See Lee (a.)
Etymology: OE. lee shelter, Icel. hlē, akin to AS. hleó hleów, shelter, protection, OS. hlèo, D. lij lee, Sw. lä, Dan. læ
adjective Lee
Of or pertaining to the part or side opposite to that against which the wind blows; -- opposed to weather; as, the lee side or lee rail of a vessel.
Other Dictionary Sources
- The side of something that is sheltered from the wind
- American general who led the Confederate Armies in the American Civil War (1807-1870)
- Soldier of the American Revolution (1756-1818)
- Leader of the American Revolution who proposed the resolution calling for independence of the American Colonies (1732-1794)
- United States physicist (born in China) who collaborated with Yang Chen Ning in disproving the principle of conservation of parity (born in 1926)
- United States actor who was an expert in kung fu and starred in martial arts films (1941-1973)
- United States striptease artist who became famous on Broadway in the 1930s (1914-1970)
- United States filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in America (born in 1957)
- Towards the side away from the wind
Wiktionary
From Middle English [Term?]
- An English topographic surname for someone who lived near a meadow (the Anglo-Saxon for meadow being ley or leag).
- A unisex given name
- A male given name derived from the surname, masculine of Leigh
- A female given name popular in conjoined names such as Lee Ann or Mary Lee.
- A placename, for example:
- A river in England, United Kingdom.
- A neighborhood near the village of Berrynarbor, Devon, England, United Kingdom.
- A suburb of Lewisham borough, London, England, United Kingdom.
- A village in Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom, commonly known as The Lee.
- A river in County Cork, Ireland.
- A former settlement in Inyo County, California, United States.
- A town in Madison County, Florida, United States.
- A village in DeKalb County and Lee County, Illinois, United States.
- An unincorporated community in Monon Township, White County, Indiana, United States.
- A town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States.
- A town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States.
- An unincorporated community in Elko County, Nevada, United States.
- A town in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States.
- A town and village in Oneida County, New York, United States.
Borrowed from East Asia
- A surname of Chinese origin. Alternative form of Li, a transcription of 李 (Lǐ) and other less common names such as 黎 (Lí) and 理 (Lǐ)
- A surname of Korean origin. Alternative form of Rhee (Hanja: 李; Hangul: 이 & 리)
A diminutive
- A male nickname for names such as Leo and Leroy
Lee was also found in the following language(s): German, Hungarian, and Luxembourgish
Notable Persons Named Lee
Notable Persons Named Lee
Lee Joon-gi
Lee Joon-gi is an actor, singer, and dancer. He was most active from 2001 to present. Lee was born on April 17th, 1982 in Busan.
Lee Harvey Oswald
Lee was born on October 18th, 1939 in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. He died on November 24th, 1963.
Lee Jong-suk
Lee Jong-suk is an actor, model (people), and model. His ongoing career started in 2005. Lee was born on September 14th, 1989 in South Korea.
Lee Min-ho
Lee Min-ho is an actor, singing, model (people), singer, and model. His most notable accomplishments were from 2003 to present. Lee was born Lee Min-ho on June 22nd, 1987 in Seoul.
Lee Byung-hun
Lee Byung-hun is an actor, dancer, singer, and model. He has had major accomplishments since 1995. Lee was born on August 13th, 1970 in Namhansanseong-myeon, Gwangju County, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.
IU
IU is a singer-songwriter, actor, and actress. She holds the title Good Day". IU was given the name Lee Ji-eun on May 16th, 1993 in South Korea.
Notable Persons With the Last Name Lee
Notable Persons With the Last Name Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee is a martial artist, martial arts instructor, actor, film director, screenwriter, producer, and martial arts. He has had major accomplishments since 1941.
Stan Lee
Hae Min Lee
Hae Min Lee is a high school student. Hae was born on October 15th, 1980 in South Korea.
Sir Christopher Lee
Sir Christopher Lee was an actor, singer, and author. His most notable accomplishments were from 1946 to 2015. Christopher was given the name Christopher Frank Carandini Lee on May 27th, 1922 in Belgravia, Westminster, London, England. He died on June 7th, 2015.
Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee is a list of presidents of washington and lee university. His military service ended in 1861.
Brandon Lee
Brandon Lee is an artist. His most notable accomplishments were from 1985 to 1993.
- Amy Lee
- Spike LeeFilm Director
- AJ Lee
- Harper LeeNovelist
- Jason LeeActor
- Ang LeeFilm Director
- Tommy LeeMusician
- Keiran Lee
- AileeSinging
- Geddy LeeMusician
- Caspar LeeYoutuber
- Charles LeeMilitary Person
- Robert FullerActor
- Jason Scott LeeActor
Common last names for Lee
Ethnicity Distribution
| Ethnicity | Lee | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| █ | White | 35.95% | 64.26% |
| █ | African American | 16.33% | 11.96% |
| █ | Asian, Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander | 42.22% | 4.85% |
| █ | American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.97% | 0.69% |
| █ | Two or More Ethnicities | 2.64% | 1.76% |
| █ | Hispanic or Latino | 1.89% | 16.26% |
Of Last Name Lee
People with the last name Lee are most frequently White, African American, or Asian, Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander
Entire United States
Fun Facts about the name Lee
| #21 | Popular Surnames |
| #46 | Boy Name of the 1900s |
| #48 | Boy Name of the 1890s |
| #45 | Boy Name of the 1880s |
| #7 | Last Name First Names |
| #19 | Unisex Names |