Lai Surname

157th
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 3,581,809 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
China
Highest density in:
Macau

Lai Surname User-submission:

This is a common Chinese surname that means 'numerous'.

Lai Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
China2,743,0121:49884
Taiwan282,5201:8320
Hong Kong152,6721:487
Vietnam145,1591:63866
Malaysia68,9841:42842
Singapore47,1121:11715
United States25,4591:14,2371,778
Italy17,4481:3,505320
Thailand15,0701:4,687151
Macau13,9271:434
Cambodia11,0371:1,403338
Myanmar8,6751:5,987223
Canada8,5981:4,285580
India6,3191:121,3907,852
Australia4,7871:5,639824
Madagascar3,8801:6,0951,238
Indonesia3,1701:41,7194,790
Pakistan2,9211:61,1582,323
England2,6691:20,8762,948
Papua New Guinea2,3471:3,474171
France1,8351:36,1984,435
Tanzania1,6581:31,9313,771
Mauritius9111:1,420185
Philippines7651:132,33822,510
South Africa7101:76,3079,487
French Polynesia7001:4018
New Zealand6751:6,7091,124
Brunei6091:688128
Germany5051:159,41718,982
United Arab Emirates4301:21,3082,464
Spain4071:114,8709,050
Netherlands3711:45,5187,741
Bangladesh3601:442,65811,259
Saudi Arabia3581:86,18912,374
Ghana3461:78,0947,799
Japan3361:380,48912,549
Somalia2941:45,7552,122
Jamaica2821:10,1771,090
Argentina2491:171,66014,420
Belgium2441:47,1177,659
Switzerland2331:35,2495,136
Ivory Coast2221:103,9245,347
Sweden2081:47,3403,687
Chile2001:88,0823,411
Estonia1921:6,884830
Kenya1851:249,62117,012
Brazil1831:1,169,80540,589
Nigeria1671:1,060,73544,297
Scotland1581:33,8853,345
Dominican Republic1541:67,7463,226
Portugal1511:68,9953,598
Morocco1361:253,50142,794
Fiji1261:7,0981,425
Guam1151:1,392196
Denmark991:57,0175,821
Wales981:31,5773,178
DR Congo961:769,57954,223
Suriname891:6,2091,452
Venezuela791:382,3308,042
Norway651:79,11211,031
Costa Rica541:88,5201,588
Ukraine471:968,56891,201
Russia451:3,202,735169,516
Solomon Islands451:12,8902,375
Moldova441:80,94010,342
Ireland431:109,5105,657
Greece381:291,57342,990
Austria371:230,14727,778
Ecuador371:429,88810,240
New Caledonia361:7,6731,760
Panama361:108,6744,042
Cameroon331:629,36647,277
Hungary331:297,46322,531
Finland321:171,77215,201
Trinidad and Tobago321:42,6243,925
Qatar311:76,0647,685
Uzbekistan271:1,145,52421,534
Niger261:738,15417,467
Mozambique251:1,090,4631,880
Liberia231:191,67512,886
Belize211:16,9271,658
Paraguay181:402,0415,757
Seychelles181:5,133784
Botswana171:128,64318,229
Iraq161:2,188,85319,343
Nicaragua151:401,4063,386
Czechia141:759,53467,321
Mexico141:8,866,15837,743
South Korea141:3,660,018674
Northern Ireland131:141,9267,751
Afghanistan131:2,473,32216,278
Egypt91:10,215,08448,153
Iceland91:42,2322,922
Poland81:4,751,094138,864
Lesotho71:290,36515,938
Yemen71:3,775,04217,439
Colombia51:9,554,81425,159
Belarus41:2,375,265105,497
East Timor41:303,982255
Guatemala41:4,020,6677,726
Guernsey41:16,1101,225
Honduras41:2,204,1106,397
Laos41:1,647,081888
Sri Lanka41:5,202,14012,146
Albania31:971,35222,477
Jersey31:33,0674,675
Peru31:10,594,70845,902
Puerto Rico31:1,183,3805,289
Slovakia31:1,778,817104,392
Uganda31:13,013,093160,157
Algeria21:19,315,77697,017
Benin21:5,167,80184,334
Bulgaria21:3,489,45264,958
Israel21:4,278,817136,311
Kazakhstan21:8,841,248174,813
Lithuania21:1,517,29435,813
Maldives21:202,0864,973
Nepal21:14,240,47817,812
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines21:56,3301,327
Slovenia21:1,243,83827,519
Turkey21:38,910,711171,901
American Samoa11:55,7583,072
Angola11:26,989,21411,853
Aruba11:103,4772,586
Bahamas11:391,7512,737
Bahrain11:1,348,60810,432
Barbados11:287,4482,772
Chad11:13,592,19913,092
Comoros11:749,524685
Curaçao11:157,2471,313
Cyprus11:884,87613,055
Ethiopia11:97,546,26229,669
Faroe Islands11:48,9982,049
Gabon11:1,889,1946,814
Georgia11:3,745,54547,852
Guinea11:11,833,8173,268
Guinea-Bissau11:1,728,021323
Iran11:76,782,524277,718
Jordan11:8,842,43726,010
Kuwait11:3,800,69427,187
Latvia11:2,050,04660,295
Monaco11:37,0664,748
Mongolia11:2,825,28917,010
Namibia11:2,409,40119,676
Saint Lucia11:178,7813,800
Senegal11:14,579,34211,705
Sierra Leone11:7,089,6311,533
Sudan11:37,510,19514,259
Swaziland11:1,298,1991,718
Togo11:7,247,76812,049
Tunisia11:610,62630,336
Uruguay11:3,431,75838,295
Zambia11:15,849,92253,989
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
England21:12,187,685173,419
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States571:881,03053,642

The alternate forms: Laï (22), Laî (2) & Lại (1) are calculated separately.

Lai (351,363) may also be a first name.

Lai Surname Meaning

User-submitted Reference

This is a common Chinese surname that means 'numerous'.

- elliechansan

Lai Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name Lai Come From? nationality or country of origin

The surname Lai (Arabic: لاي, Bengali: লই, Hindi: लाई, Marathi: लाई, Oriya: ଲଇ, Russian: Лаи, Tibetan: ལའི་) is carried by more people in China than any other country/territory. It can also appear as a variant: Laï, Laî or Lại. Click here for other potential spellings of this surname.

How Common Is The Last Name Lai? popularity and diffusion

The surname Lai is the 157th most numerous family name world-wide, borne by around 1 in 2,035 people. The last name occurs predominantly in Asia, where 98 percent of Lai live; 89 percent live in East Asia and 89 percent live in Sino-East Asia. Lai is also the 2,963rd most frequently held first name globally, held by 351,363 people.

The last name Lai is most frequent in China, where it is carried by 2,743,012 people, or 1 in 498. Not including China Lai occurs in 152 countries. It is also found in Taiwan, where 8 percent are found and Hong Kong, where 4 percent are found.

Lai Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The frequency of Lai has changed through the years. In The United States the number of people who held the Lai surname grew 44,665 percent between 1880 and 2014 and in England it grew 133,450 percent between 1881 and 2014.

Lai Last Name Statistics demography

The religious adherence of those holding the Lai last name is principally Christian (100%) in Kenya.

In The United States those holding the Lai last name are 13.48% more likely to be registered with the Democratic Party than the national average, with 66.71% registered with the political party.

The amount Lai earn in different countries varies greatly. In Italy they earn 8.67% less than the national average, earning €27,425 per year; in Norway they earn 14.01% less than the national average, earning 297,577 kr per year; in South Africa they earn 67.3% more than the national average, earning R 397,560 per year; in Vietnam they earn 1% more than the national average, earning 83,268,300 ₫ per year; in United States they earn 19.66% more than the national average, earning $51,630 USD per year and in Canada they earn 18.81% more than the national average, earning $59,026 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
Laï8922/
Laî892/
Lại891/
Laia8668,824/
Laid869,678/
Lais866,283/
Layi862,394/
Laiz862,346/
Lait862,164/
Laji861,812/
Laiu861,377/
Laij86525/
Laie86441/
Laip86266/
Laio86264/
Laai86165/
Liai86101/
Laih8694/
Laić8668/
Laii8655/
Hlai8653/
Lyai8644/
Lhai8633/
Laiç8631/
Laiy8622/
Llai865/
Lgai865/
L'Ai861/
Li80104,892,114/
La80502,950/
Lahai7535,906/
Laiho753,308/
Laios751,678/
Laiat751,511/
Laich751,295/
Lahia75998/
Lajie75767/
Laiou75648/
Laius75620/
Laish75612/
Laihi75485/
Llait75368/
Laaji75354/
Lawie75282/
Layid75242/
Lahji75197/
Laiyo75177/
Laiss75157/
Laitt75137/
Layiç75134/
Lagie75126/
Laihe75121/
Laist75105/
Laiez75104/
Laiah75103/
Liais7592/
Lahio7579/
Laggi7577/
Laiha7570/
Lahij7562/
Laies7557/
Laihu7552/
Laaij7551/
Lajih7551/
Hlaić7549/
Laied7543/
Lațiu7540/
Liaia7532/
Laiad7528/
Lauia7527/
Layie7527/
Lajij7523/
Layis7522/
Lahei7520/
Layit7520/
Laias7519/
Loaia7519/
Laijs7516/
Lhaij7516/
Lahiu7511/
Liaji7511/
Laaid7511/
Laayi7510/
Laije759/
Lhaji759/
Lajio758/
Layhi757/
Lahii756/
Liaid755/
Laiet755/
Lajgi754/
Hlais754/
La'ai754/
Laioş754/
Laiph753/
Layio753/
Lauie753/
Lahiy753/
Layip753/
Laiee753/
Laiot752/
Laidh752/
Laits752/
Laaia752/
Laiid752/
Hlayi752/
L'Lai752/
Laioe752/
Laioș752/
Liayi752/
Laieh752/
Llaio752/
Lajiy751/
Layij751/
Layyi751/
Laais751/
Laaih751/
L'Aid751/
Layii751/
Lhais751/
Llaie751/
Llais751/
Lliai751/
Lyaia751/
Lyayi751/
Hlaid751/
Lații751/
Laijh751/
Laiðo751/
Lajiç751/
Lai'a751/
Laiau751/
Laieş751/
Laieș751/
L'Aio751/
Laait751/
Liaih751/
Liait751/
Liaie751/
Hlaji751/
Laiaa751/
Llaih751/
Lyaij751/
Lhaia751/
Laitp751/
Lajiz751/
Laihs751/
Llaid750/
Laihy750/
Lei673,739,001/
Lau67509,986/
Lay67335,240/
Lui6799,152/
Lis6791,537/
Lad6782,400/
Hla6756,653/
Lie6750,006/
Lea6747,342/
Lat6738,119/
Loi6738,016/
Lia6735,092/
Lah6729,893/
Las6717,389/
Lio6711,281/
Loa679,955/
Lap678,996/
Laz677,901/
Liz677,308/
Laa676,108/
Lae676,071/
Lla674,823/
Laj674,685/
Lahaie674,616/
Lya674,060/
Lit673,489/
Lip673,340/
Lid671,974/
Lii671,162/
Lih671,158/
Lli671,018/
Liß67919/
Liy67604/
Lha67404/
Lahaji67385/
Laheij67374/
Laç67322/
Laihad67174/
Laajij67136/
Laihee67123/
Laggia6792/
Lhi6791/
Laihit6790/
Lyi6786/
Léa6774/
Layish6760/
Laugie6756/
Lahait6753/
Laicht6751/
Lij6743/
Layhip6736/
Hli6730/
Laisch6725/
Laihah6723/
Laiosh6722/
Lúa6719/
Lahiah6717/
Lauhio6712/
Lajaia679/
Laihou679/
Laihio677/
Lač676/
Laious676/
Lað675/
Lyaich674/
Lahiep674/
Llaiah674/
Lahaia674/
Laitch674/
Lajije674/
Lahies674/
Lga674/
Laisht674/
Laÿ674/
Laisth674/
Laiová673/
Hlawie673/
Laiaya673/
Laggio672/
Laujis672/
Lajith672/
Lgi672/
Lahjij672/
Laà672/
Laá672/
Laihuo672/
Lawieh672/
Liajit672/
Lahiae671/
Laihut671/
Laijhe671/
Laiyth671/
Layich671/
Laahei671/
Liṓ671/
Lợi671/
Lùa671/
Llahie671/
Liù671/
Liǔ671/
Léi671/
Lóa671/
Hlyaji671/
Laë671/
Laù671/
Layhid671/
Layhit671/
Lauias671/
Lahjid671/
Laiach671/
Laihaa671/
Laggiu671/
Lhaich671/
Lhaith671/
Liaiyd671/
Lahwie671/
Llauji671/
Laichz671/
Laaich671/
Llahai671/
Lai'ee671/
Laihie671/
Laihud671/
Llaiss670/
Lyaies670/
Laiush670/

Lai Name Transliterations

TransliterationICU LatinPercentage of Incidence
Lai in the Tibetan language
ལའི་-
Lai in the Bengali language
লইla'i-
Lai in the Hindi language
लाईla'i69.46
लईla'i18.56
लाइla'i2.99
अलीali2.99
लैlai2.4
लाीlai1.2
Lai in the Marathi language
लाईla'i67.53
लईla'i20.78
लैlai3.9
लइla'i3.9
लाइla'i2.6
Lai in the Oriya language
ଲଇla'i59.89
ଲାଇla'i36.16
Lai in the Russian language
Лаиlai-
Lai in the Arabic language
لايlay-

Search for Another Surname

The name statistics are still in development, sign up for information on more maps and data

By signing up to the mailing list you will only receive emails specifically about name reference on Forebears and your information will not be distributed to 3rd parties.

Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Lai
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis