Surname Schau - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Schau: What does the surname Schau mean?
The surname Schau is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word "schouwen," which means "to look" or "to inspect". It was typically attributed as a nickname or occupational name for a watchman or an inspector. However, the meaning may vary based on different regional dialects and contexts in the German language. Like many surnames, the interpretive meaning might not reflect the actual profession or character of the original bearer of the name. Therefore, while "Schau" might have started as an occupational surname, not every person with this surname would have been a watchman or inspector throughout history.
Order DNA origin analysisSchau: Where does the name Schau come from?
The last name Schau is most common today in Germany and parts of Scandinavia. It is a German occupational surname, more commonly found in the northern regions of the country, as well as in smaller adjacent areas of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The surname is derived from the Middle High German word "schouwe," meaning "shoemaker." It is believed that it wasn’t until the middle 16th century that the Schau name began to be widely associated with the occupation of shoemaking, with the earliest owners of the name located in Pomerania, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg.
Today, Schau is an uncommon but still existent surname. It is found mainly throughout Germany, yet is also present in other parts of the world, especially in the United States, where there are nearly 21,000 people with the name. There are also smaller numbers in other countries like Canada and South Africa. Interestingly, the surname is strongly linked with Sweden due to the many German settlers who settled in parts of the country in the 1700s. The Swedish-language version of the surname, Schouw, is also common in Scandinavian countries, especially Norway.
Variations of the surname Schau
The surname Schau, which originated in Germany, can appear in a variety of spellings and variations. The most common variations of this surname include Schaw, Schahn, Schäfer, Schaaf, Schatz, Schauf, Schäfer, Schaffer, Scharf, Schauer, Schauder, Schauwecker, Schaumann, Schauer, and Scheuer.
Schau itself is derived from Old Germanic words which refer to “look/consider, survey”. This suggests that individuals with the surname would have been associated with overseeing or monitoring certain elements in a given area or domain.
Schaw is the original spelling of the surname while Schauf, Schauer, Schauder and Schauwecker are believed to be more modern variations.
Schatz and Scharf are believed to be variant spellings of the surname, while Schäfer, Schaaf, Schaffer, Schaumann, and Scheuer are believed to be German variants.
In some cases, the surname can also be encountered under the name Scheu, which is the Dutch version of Schau.
German immigrants often Americanized the surname Chaw and Shaw, while Jewish immigrants may have encountered the surname variants Schou and Schaeu.
In addition, the extinct variant form Schaeffer can still be encountered in some regions.
In conclusion, the surname Schau can appear in many different variations and spellings, with some of the more common variants being Schaw, Schahn, Schäfer, Schaaf, Schatz, Schauf, Schäfer, Schaffer, Scharf, Schauer, Schauder, Schauwecker, Schaumann, Schauer, and Scheuer.
Famous people with the name Schau
- Misty Schau: Professional tennis player. She won five singles titles and six doubles titles on the ITF Women’s Circuit, reaching a best singles ranking of world No. 99 in September 1997.
- Charles Schau: Folk Art director of the Grunewald Guild in Leavenworth, Washington. He is an expert in painting and gilding antique furniture and frames.
- Peter Schau: Film and television producer. He has produced movies such as Jurassic Park III and TV series such as Roseanne.
- Hunter Schau: Theatre director. He is a founding collaborator of the theatrical event company Cut to the Chase Productions in Los Angeles.
- Lawrence Schau: American scholar in German philosophy and the philosophy of language. He is a professor emeritus at West Virginia University.
- Emil Schau: Norwegian botanist. He was a professor of botany at the Royal Frederick University and later Professor of plant technology at the same institution.
- Jacob Schau: Danish composer and professor of composition at the Royal Danish Academy of Music.
- Aurora Schau: Norwegian artist and illustrator. She is known for her whimsical animal portraits and colorful illustrations.
- Hugh Schau: American sportsman and collegiate coach. He was the track and field coach at Princeton University for 36 years and led the school’s men’s team to 22 Division I NCAA Championships.
- Martin Schau: Danish painter. He was a part of the Danish Golden Age movement, creating landscapes, churches and portraits.