Surname Au - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'A'
Au: What does the surname Au mean?
The surname Au is of Chinese origin and is the most commonly found surname in Hong Kong. It is believed to have been derived either from the Chinese word “劉” (liú), meaning “plum”, or from the Chinese phrase “敖” (‘ao), meaning “magnificent”. The surname can also be found in other East-Asian countries and in some parts of Europe.
The surname Au is part of the larger Liu-Au clan. Its members are believed to have ancient royal origins, and belong to the surnames of “luò”, “léi”, “luò” and “áo”. These signify different gallants and talents.
The Au surname is known as a symbol of intelligence, courage and loyalty. People with this surname are known for their industriousness and perseverance. They are also believed to be excellent communicators and problem-solvers, and enjoy taking on challenging tasks.
Historically, the Au clan has been one of the most influential and powerful clans throughout China's history. Its members have produced many notable people, such as Generalissimo Au Shui-Lo and Dr. Au-Yeung Kwok Fung.
Given its royal background and its history of distinguished members, the Au clan is seen as being strong and noble. Its members are held in high regard in the Chinese and East-Asian communities, and are known for achieving great things both at home and abroad.
Order DNA origin analysisAu: Where does the name Au come from?
The surname Au is commonly found today in Taiwan and parts of Hong Kong and China. In Taiwan, this surname is more commonly associated with local tribes who trace their heritage back to the ancient Austronesian migration. In Hong Kong it is sometimes seen used as a Mandarin spelling of the surname “Ou” which originated in China. In China, the surname Au is derived from the State of Au during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history. A study of the 2000 census in China found that the proportion of the population with the surname Au was highest in the Jiangxi province and the Fujian province. There, more than one percent of the population shared the last name Au.
Outside of Asia, the Au surname can also be found in some European countries including France and Germany. In France, it appears to be a variant spelling of the surname L'Ou and is mostly found in the Normandy region. In Germany, the Au surname is derived from "Au" which was a preposition that served as an indication of membership in the German nobility.
Generally speaking, the surname Au is most commonly found in East Asia today, particularly in the provinces of China and Taiwan. In other parts of the world, it is largely confined to certain regions such as Normandy in France and some parts of Germany.
Variations of the surname Au
The surname Au is a Chinese surname that can be found mainly in the Cantonese-speaking region of China and has many different spellings and variants.
In the Chinese language, the surname Au is spelled as ‘歨' and in the English language, it can be spelled as Au, Auw, Aw, Aow, Aou, Auh, Ouh, Ueh, Auy, Oeh, Ou, Oh, Uoh, or Oe.
This surname is also commonly spelled as Au in the Hakka language which is a Chinese dialect. Hakka people commonly spell the surname as Aw, Au, U, Ue, Aou, Auh, Uoh, Ueh, O, Oe, Oo, Oou, Ouh, Oo, Ouh, or Ow.
In the Portuguese language speakers, the surname Au is typically spelled as a O, Oa, Oau, Oaw, or Oh.
In addition to the different spelling and variants of the surname Au, there are other surnames derived from this surname. These common surnames include Ou, And, Oue, Aum, Auy, Aun, Auh, Auye, Aua, Ouw, and Oueh.
In conclusion, the surname Au is a Chinese surname that is commonly found in the Cantonese-speaking region of China and is often spelled as ‘歨’ in the Chinese language and as Au, Auw, Aw, Aow, Aou, Auh, Ouh, Ueh, Auy, Oeh, Ou, Oh, Uoh, or Oe in the English language. Additionally, there are many other spellings and surnames which are derived from the surname Au.
Famous people with the name Au
- Jaren Au: Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Ben Au: American software engineering professor
- Christine Au: Hong Kong actress and singer
- Johnson Au: Hong Kong toy inventor
- Steven Au: American singer-songwriter and entrepreneur
- Kaho Au: Chinese actress, model, and singer
- Aaron Au: Canadian entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist
- Po-Chih Au: Taiwanese business magnate
- Aaron Au Yeong: Malaysian film director and actor
- Paul Au: Hong Kong banker and business executive
- Yusuke Au: Japanese writer and director
- Sheila Au: Malaysian TikTok creator
- Jillian Au: American figure skater
- Stephanie Au: Hong Kong swimmer
- Kenny Au: American actor
- Billy Au: Hong Kong actor
- Imani Au: American Olympic luger
- Phoebe Au: Hong Kong singer and actress
- Ruth Au: Hong Kong actress
- William Au: American documentary filmmaker and visual artist