Rau
A short surname with several possible roots, most often linked to a Germanic personal name or a word for “red.”
The #3,968 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 34,454 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname is most likely either a short form of a Germanic personal name or a nickname from a word meaning “red.” In the historical surname literature, Rau is associated with forms like Old Norse rauðr and Old English raue, both tied to the color red, and also with Germanic given names that begin with elements such as rau-/rauð-. Because the surname is very short and appears in several language traditions, its exact origin can differ by family line.
History
The name appears in German, French, and Scandinavian contexts, so it has likely arisen independently in more than one place. English surname manuals also point to related place-names such as Rawcliffe, Rawdon, and Rawkins, which strengthen the idea of a color-based or local-name origin in some cases. In the United States, Rau is uncommon but established, with several thousand bearers in the 2010 census.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because Rau is so brief, it can be hard to pin down: two families with the same surname may not share the same original meaning.
From the historical record
“(Rathmell is on the R. Ribble) [O.N. rau^-r, red -f- mel-r'] RATTRAY ^(Celt.) Bel. to Rattray (Perth- RATTRY J shire^, 13th cent. Rathgriff [prob. O.Gael, rath, a fortress (there are traces of an old castle at Rattray) -|-?Gael. riabh-”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)