No Subject

[CHUNG Yoon-Ngan <chungyn@mozart.collective.com.au>]

>Dear Yoon-Ngan Chung,

>Could you tell me about the origin of the surname Lei (in Mandarin), Lui
>in Cantonese? It means Thunder.

>Thank You.

>Yours Sincerely,
>Charles Louie
>San Francisco

Hello Charles,

Hakka surname Looi is also
Chinese surname No.69 Lei2
Lei2 means: thunder
e.g. Lei2 Yu3 means : thunderstorm
Surname Lei2 is about 4600 years old.

Abstract: Surname Lei2 was originated in an area which was called the
          Feng2 Ye4 Perfecture during the Han4 Dynasty (206BC to 220AD).
          The present day location of Feng2 Ye4 Prefecture is in 
          Da4 Li4 county in Shaanxi province China.

   Surname Lei2 is a very, very old surname, as old as Huang2 Di4
(Yellow Emperor). The way of writing this character Lei2 has 
changed ten times through out the recorded history. It is so ancient that
much of the information about surname Lei2 has been lost or not
been preserved properly.

  According to the Shi3 Ji4 (Historical Records) the surname of
Yellow Emperor's wife Lei4 Zu3 was Fang Lei2. The Shi3 Ji4 also recorded
that Yellow Emperor employed a man named Lei2 Gong as a herbalist. This man 
was well known for his formula of mixing herbs. Any sick patient who came 
to him for treatment had a high chance of recovery after taking his herbal 
medicine. His medicine was like elixer. Yellow Emperor adored him.
   
  After his death, in order to commemorate him, his children adopted
LEI2 (thunder) as their surname and left the word Gong (grandfather
which was the title of respect his patients give him).

Shi3 Ji4 (Historical Records)
The character of Lei2 in Kang Xi Zi3 Dian3 
(Kang Xi Dictionary)

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan. chungyn@mozart.collective.com.au