Surname Quedenau - Meaning and Origin

Quedenau: What does the surname Quedenau mean?

Quedenau is an Americanized version of the German surname Küdenow, which originated from the northern region of Germany, Mecklenburg. The last name is derived from a combination of two elements: Küde, which is a variant of Kütte meaning 'cottage', and Now, which means 'newcomer'. The combination of these elements roughly translates to 'NEW COTTAGER'.

In Germany, COAT OF ARMS would have been assigned to the Quedenau family name, but as the German version of the name has been Americanized to Quedenau, it appears that they have no such coat of arms.

The surname is not very common in the United States. The 2000 US Census recorded only 19 people with the last name Quedenau. Quedenau is also a much more common surname in Germany, where there are more than 2000 people registered with the name.

As with other surnames, the exact origin and meaning of the last name Quedenau can be elusive. However, it is believed that the name is of German descent and denotes a "newcomer" to a cottage or homestead.

Quedenau: Where does the name Quedenau come from?

The last name Quedenau is commonly found in France today. According to the French National Institute of Statistics, the Quedenau name first appeared in French records in 1632 in the form of "LQuedenau" and is believed to be of German origin. It is still most common in the northeastern region of the country, especially in Lorraine.

The majority of the Quedenau name holders live in the cities and towns of Colmar, Metz, Mulhouse, Thionville, Sarreguemines, Metz, Nancy, Verdun, and Saint-Nazaire-en-Royans. There is also some evidence of Quedenau families living in Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.

It's not clear what the exact origin of the surname is, but the most common theory is that it is derived from the Germanic words "qued" meaning plough and "eau" meaning water. This has led some to suggest that the original Quedenau families were farmers who used to trade their goods and services with nearby towns.

Today, the majority of the Quedenau family in France trace their roots back to Lorraine. It is uncertain how many people in the world carry this surname, but it is still quite common in the northeast of France and its neighboring countries.

Variations of the surname Quedenau

The surname Quedenau has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant is “Quandenau”, which is derived from the old French “quandenau”, meaning “place of the river crossing”. This spellings takes the ‘Q’ of the surname and replaces it with a ‘Q’, making it pronounceable in French, while the ‘u’ is replaced by an ‘a’ and the ‘n’ is changed to a ‘d’. Other variants include “Cuendenau” or “Quendenau”, both of which are based on the same root of the word.

The surnames of the same origin include “Quedeneau”, “Quendeneau” and “Quedeneaux”. These take the ‘Quedenau’ of the surname and replace it with an ‘e’ or an ‘x’, respectively. Other variants include “Queudenneau” or “Quetienneau”, both of which are more phonetically accurate versions of the original name.

The origins of the surname are likely to have been French, and it is likely that the surname originated between the 13th and the 15th century, as the original spelling appears in a book of French Names dating from the 13th century. As the surname is French in origin, it should be remembered that modern French spellings can vary considerably from country to country, so it is possible that the name may be spelled differently in different parts of the world, or in different parts of France.

Famous people with the name Quedenau

• John Quedenau: former professional hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings, Vancouver Canucks and Hartford Whalers.
• Gloria Quedenau: actress best known for her roles on the television series Black Jesus and How To Get Away With Murder.
• Rolf Quedenau: professional golfer who competed in various tournaments internationally.
• Annie Quedenau: singer-songwriter and musician based in Los Angeles, California.
• Philippe Quedenau: French director and actor known for his work in comedy films such as La Cage aux Folles 2 and Sheik D'Arby.
• Paul Quedenau: politician and former mayor of the City of Eau Claire in Wisconsin.
• Joyce Quedenau: charity worker, human rights advocate and former Peace Corps volunteer.
• Joseph Quedenau: painter and sculptor based in New York City.
• Fred Quedenau: public relations executive and former advisor to President Clinton.
• Peter Quedenau: business executive and former CEO of Big 5 Sporting Goods.

Other surnames

Quedenbaum