Lee Cemetery Records
Search burial records, grave locations, and genealogy data for the Lee family name across all 50 states.
πΊ Origin of the Lee Surname
Lee has multiple independent origins: (1) English β from Old English "leah" (woodland clearing), a topographic surname; (2) Chinese β from Li (ζ), one of the most common Chinese surnames, romanized as Lee in some systems; (3) Korean β from Yi/Lee (μ΄/ζ), the most common Korean surname; (4) Vietnamese β from LΓ½ (ζ), same character as the Chinese. All four traditions converge on the same English spelling.
πΊπΈ Lee Families in American History
Lee is remarkable in American genealogy for being common across multiple completely distinct ethnic traditions. The English Lee family β exemplified by Robert E. Lee β has roots in Virginia dating to the 1640s. Chinese Lee families arrived during the Gold Rush and railroad era (1850s-80s). Korean Lee families came in waves after 1965 immigration reform. Vietnamese Lees (LΓ½) arrived after 1975.
Where Lee Families Are Concentrated
| State | Notes |
|---|---|
| Virginia | Historic English Lee family center; Robert E. Lee from Stratford Hall, VA |
| California | Very high Asian-heritage Lee population (Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese) |
| Hawaii | Significant Korean and Chinese Lee population |
| New York | Large Korean-American Lee community in NYC metro area |
| Georgia | Deep English Lee heritage; Civil War connections extensive |
Famous Americans Named Lee
Confederate general; buried at Lee Chapel, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA
Founding Father; buried at Burnt House Field, Westmoreland County, VA
Martial artist and actor; buried at Lake View Cemetery, Seattle, WA
Jazz singer; buried at Westwood Village Memorial Park, LA
Sample Lee Burial Records
| Name | Birth | Death | Cemetery | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert E. Lee | 1807 | 1870 | Lee Chapel | VA |
Search Tips for Lee Family Records
Always clarify ethnic origin when searching Lee β Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and English records are in completely different archives
Robert E. Lee family: Stratford Hall Plantation (VA) and Washington and Lee University archives are key
For Chinese Lee (Li) families: Chinese exclusion era records (pre-1943) in National Archives are important
Korean Lee (Yi) families: post-1965 immigration records and Korean church (Presbyterian) archives in the US
Virginia English Lee families: Westmoreland County records date back to 1640s for the founding Lee generation
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I distinguish English Lee families from Chinese or Korean Lee families in cemetery records?
Cemetery name and location are the strongest indicators. Chinese Lee families were often buried in Chinese sections of municipal cemeteries or in dedicated Chinese cemeteries (like San Jose's Chinese cemetery). Korean Lees are typically in mainline Protestant cemeteries after 1965. English Lees follow standard Protestant traditions.
Is Bruce Lee buried in Seattle?
Yes. Bruce Lee is buried at Lake View Cemetery in Seattle, Washington, alongside his son Brandon Lee. Their graves are among the most-visited in the Pacific Northwest and are well-documented in cemetery records.
Are the famous Virginia Lees (Robert E. Lee etc.) related to each other?
The Virginia Lee family is one of America's most distinguished colonial families. Richard Henry Lee, Light-Horse Harry Lee, and Robert E. Lee are all part of the same Virginia Lee lineage descending from Richard Lee I who arrived from England in the 1640s.
Are Chinese and Korean Lee families related?
The Chinese character ζ (LΗ in Mandarin, Yi/Lee in Korean) is the same character used in both traditions β it is a shared East Asian surname of ancient origin. Chinese Li and Korean Yi/Lee families share this common character origin though they are not genealogically connected.
Search All Lee Burial Records
250 free record views per month. Find your Lee ancestors across all 50 states. No credit card required.
Search Lee Records Free β