Surname Dau - Meaning and Origin
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Dau: What does the surname Dau mean?
The last name Dau is most predominately found in France. The name is believed to have derived from the Latin word 'daucus', which means 'turnip'. It is suggested that the name was first used as an occupational name for someone involved in the cultivation and selling of turnips as a vegetable crop.
This suggests a strong agricultural history within the French region. It is also possible that the name is derived from the Latin word 'dau' meaning 'dove', which has led to the suggestion that it may have been given to someone who bred or kept doves.
The name Dau is also found across other countries in Europe, including Belgium, Spain, and Portugal. It is believed that it spread from France as people moved to other parts of the continent, settling in new areas and carrying the name with them.
Overall, the last name Dau has a rich history, and it is likely to have multiple etymologies. One thing is for certain, its roots are intertwined with agriculture and birds, hinting at how the name came into existence.
Order DNA origin analysisDau: Where does the name Dau come from?
The last name Dau is most commonly found in Southwestern Germany, where there are an estimated 211,000 people with the surname. This is particularly true in the German state of Baden-Württemburg, where there are about 82,450 people with the surname. The last name Dau can also be found in small numbers within the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, and Eastern Europe.
Although the origin of the last name is uncertain, it is likely derived from the old Germanic name, Thiadrus, or “handsome ruler”. This name may have been passed down from a father to his sons. There’s also evidence that suggests the name was passed down from a person holding an important social rank, such as a leader of a tribe.
Meanwhile, in Denmark, the Danish form of Dau is Daa. The surname is popular in the region, especially the Jutland peninsula, which is the northernmost part of Denmark. There are approximately 8,940 people with the last name Daa in Denmark today.
Finally, in the United States, the last name Dau is quite common, particularly among German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and the midwest during the 19th century. Today, the U.S. Census records show that the last name is most common in Pennsylvania, although there are approximately 7,400 people with the last name Dau in the United States.
Variations of the surname Dau
The surname Dau can have many variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common spellings of the surname are Dau, Daux, Daw, Dawe, D'au, D'aux, D'aw, D'awe, Daou, Daoux, Daow, Daowe, Dal, and Dall.
The surname Dau is of French origin, which was first found in the Dauphine region of France, an area that lies at the foot of the Alps. The traditional spelling of the name was Dauphin, which was itself derived from the Latin word for dolphin (dauphinus).
In England, the variants of the surname Dau are mainly found in the counties of Cornwall and Devon, where the name is sometimes spelled Daw or Dawe. In Scotland, the spelling usually changes to Dall, although the variants Daw and Dawe can also be found.
In the United States, the surname Dau is uncommon but can be found in Pennsylvania where it was among the earliest arrivals to the country and in the Midwest region, especially in Minnesota, where it is quite popular. Variations of the surname such as Dau, Daux, Daou, Daoux, and Daow can be found across the country.
The surname also has many variants from other countries in Europe, where it can be found as, for instance, Daue, Dauber, Dahue, Dahm, and Dalue. It also appears in Italy as Dauio or Dario and in the Czech Republic as Daul and Doule.
Famous people with the name Dau
- Pierre-Emmanuel Dauzat, French actor, director and humanitarian
- Louis Dau, French painter
- Marie-Josèphe Dau, French singer
- Jean-Marie Dau, French journalist and writer
- Jacques Dau, French painter
- Jean-Pierre Dau, French sculptor
- Alphonse Dau, French artist
- Adrien Dau, French general
- Olivier Dau, French composer
- Jean Dau, French architect