The Lei surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 7,504 people carried this name — #4,726 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 39,400 people counted. That is up 58% from 4,749 in 2000.

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Where the name comes from

The origin of the Lei surname

Borrowed from Chinese 雷 (léi).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Lei» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

172 people named Lei live in Switzerland.

They live in 17 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

Zurich 42
St. Gallen 24
Vaud 21
Thurgau 16
Bern 10
Basel-Landschaft 9
Geneva 9
Graubünden 8

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 51 people named Lei live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in City of Buenos Aires.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

City of Buenos Aires 37
Buenos Aires Province 14

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 36 people named Lei.

Most of them — 19 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 7 départements, most often Haute-Savoie.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 19
Haute-Savoie 5
Orne 4
Var 3
Mayenne 2
Côtes-d’Armor 1
Maine-et-Loire 1
Pas-de-Calais 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

63 people named Lei is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 63

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In print

Lei in American newspapers,
1874–1909.

Newspaper page from Daily Press carrying the name Lei
Daily Press 1905-09-14
Newspaper page from Weekly Arkansas Gazette carrying the name Lei
Weekly Arkansas Gazette 1874-08-18
Newspaper page from The Grenada Sentinel carrying the name Lei
The Grenada Sentinel 1909-10-22

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 2,605 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Lei in Australian newspapers,
1820s–1990s.

11,913 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Lei. The most, 2,111, date from the 1910s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Victoria, at 1.5 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 3,681
New South Wales 3,358
Queensland 2,343
South Australia 1,053
Western Australia 780
Tasmania 630
ACT (Canberra) 34
Northern Territory 7

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Lei.

Who carried it

People named Lei,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Lei Yungong d. 1022
  • Lei Shi d. 1153
  • Lei Xun d. 746
  • Lei Xia d. 813
  • Lei Zhen d. 776
  • Lei Xing d. 833

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Lei,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States156 records

156 records of the Lei name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 49
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 43
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 40
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 13
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 11
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Victor W. Lei

    Born 1920 in Nebraska. Enlisted 1941 at Sacramento, California; meat cutter. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1984, buried at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Francesco Lei

    Arrived at New York in 1906 aboard the Roma from Marseilles and Naples, aged 26; laborer. From Buccino, Salerno, Italy; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. A U.S. Army record of death and interment, Camp Nelson, Kentucky, 1864
    Example: U.S. burial record, 1864
    Burial record Aloa Tupua Lei

    U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Born 1932, died 2000; buried at Nuuuli Village Cemetery, Pago Pago, American Samoa.

    U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)

Showing 3 of 156 records for Lei in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Record of death and interment, Camp Nelson, Kentucky, 1864, U.S. National Archives (public domain).

Netherlands255 records

255 records of the Lei name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 173
  • Dutch population registers 80
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 2
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Marten Lei

    Married in 1897 in Oostdongeradeel. Died 1946 in Dantumadeel, aged 78.

    Open Archives, AlleFriezen (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Catharina Lei

    Born 1901 in Utrecht. Died 1901 in Utrecht.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Dirkje Jannetje Lei

    In the population register of Abbenbroek; born 1831 in Geervliet.

    Open Archives, Streekarchief Voorne-Putten (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 255 records for Lei in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Australia7 records

7 records of the Lei name in Australia
  • Tasmanian Names Index 3
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 2
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 1
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 1
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Zu He Lei

    Retired of Forest Hill, Victoria; died 1999.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  2. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record William Lei

    Left Launceston in 1854 aboard the Clarence, bound for Melbourne.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Henry Lei

    Held a land order in Queensland in 1871.

    Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 7 records for Lei in Australia.

Counts: Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Germany7 records

7 records of the Lei name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Christian Lei

    From Schnabek, Sonderburg. Reported dead in the Prussian casualty list of 15 November 1915 (Infantry Regiment No. 342).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Ludwig Lei

    From Neuhausen. Reported taken prisoner in the Prussian casualty list of 4 April 1916 (Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 249).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  3. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Johann Lei

    From Freiburg i. B. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 6 February 1917.

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 3 of 7 records for Lei in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

France6 records

6 records of the Lei name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Roberto Lei

    Born 1921 in Morocco; died 2001 in Cabestany (Pyrénées-Orientales).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Ieng Wai Lei

    Born 1957 in China; died 2001 in Paris.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Louis Jean Lei

    Born 1905 in Toulon; died 1987 in Toulon (Var).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 6 records for Lei in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Norway3 records

3 records of the Lei name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Alette Lei

    Census of 1910: Ved havnen, Kopervik; maidservant, born 1879 in Myking.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Randi Lei

    Census of 1910: Naalsund (gaard), Strømsneset; washerwoman, born 1859 in Strømsneset.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Hælga Lei

    Census of 1910: Storgate, Kongsberg; born 1894 in Kongsberg.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Canada2 records

2 records of the Lei name in Canada
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 1
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 1
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Dan Lei

    Buried in 1973 at Chinese Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 90.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Chin H. Lei

    Died 1998, aged 80; buried at Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.

Counts: City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom1 record

1 record of the Lei name in the United Kingdom War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record T. Lei

    Driver, Royal Horse Artillery. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Lei.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Lei is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Lei volume
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