Li is the most popular surname in China, even in North Korea and Viet Nam. Because of Li's literary martial arts in the Tang Dynasty, many famous soldiers were given the surname Li. In history, the number of famous soldiers surnamed Li should be the largest, but it is only a personal opinion.

Li was born after Hao Tao in ancient Levin, and then gradually divided into Longyou and Hebei branches.

During the Warring States Period, the surname Li, who became a Ji in Longyou, was very powerful, a famous soldier and a hero, and it lasted for hundreds of years. Among them, Li Xin, one of the generals of Qin State in the annexation war at the end of Qin Dynasty, and Li You, the son of Reese, was a famous soldier of Qin State. On the opposite side of Qin State, Zhao Guoyou was a famous soldier Li Mu.

In the Han Dynasty, Li, who had been in Longyou for a long time, became a famous general, flying general Li Guang. Li Guang's sons Li Danghu, Li Jiao and Li Gan are all famous generals. Li Ling, the posthumous son of Li Danghu, is a rare military genius. He led an army of 5,000 in Juyan, and was later ordered to attack the Huns. Five thousand men fought fiercely with hundreds of thousands of enemy troops across the country, killing and injuring countless enemies.

During the Three Kingdoms period, some famous Li names appeared again. Such as Li Dian, Li Mancheng, Li Tong, Li Kan in Xiliang and Li Hui, Li Yan and Li Feng in Shuhan.

The peasant war in the Western Jin Dynasty was led by Te Li, a representative of several hundred thousand refugees who entered Shu. Te Li and Li Xiong led the uprising for decades, which completely disrupted the ruling order of the westward movement and created an opportunity for the northern "Wuhu" to invade the Central Plains.

In the Tang Dynasty, Li Yuan started the Tang Dynasty, mainly relying on two sons, Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin, who were both talented. In the Tang Dynasty, there were a large number of heroes and minority generals who gave their surnames to Li, such as Li Zihe, Li Zhongchen, Li Baoyu, Li Guochen, Li Baochen, Li Guangjin, Li Guangbi and Li Sheng.