Surname Langenau - Meaning and Origin
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Langenau: What does the surname Langenau mean?
The surname Langenau is a German surname found throughout Europe, especially in Germany and Austria. It is derived from the name of a small town located in the Swabian region of Germany, and is thought to refer to someone who originated from that particular area.
The town of Langenau is first mentioned in 830 AD as a settlement of the Staufen family. It is located in the Southern region of Germany, known as the Swabian Alps, and is extremely popular among tourists due to its scenic beauty.
In the 15th century, the name Langenau was adopted as a surname and began appearing in European records of the time. It is believed that anyone who came from the town of Langenau had the surname attached to them, and thus the surname became more widely used.
Today, the surname Langenau is still common throughout Europe and can be found in many countries across the world. When used as a given name, Langenau is said to represent someone who is loyal, dependable and hardworking. They may also be described as being calm, honest and strong-willed, and are often seen as being compassionate, understanding and tolerant.
Order DNA origin analysisLangenau: Where does the name Langenau come from?
The last name Langenau is most common in Germany today, particularly in the southern part of the country. The majority of Langenau families in Germany today come from the historic region of Württemberg. This area is located in Baden-Württemberg, which is situated in southwestern Germany.
The Langenau name is particularly prominent in the southern cities of Baden-Württemberg, such as Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, Freiburg, and Heidelberg. Additionally, large numbers of Langenau families can be found in the nearby regions of the Rhineland-Palatinate and Bavaria.
The Langenau family can trace its history in Germany back to the Middle Ages, with the earliest documented records of Langenau in the 14th century. Initially, the Langenau name was limited to the Swabian region of Württemberg, where it remains most populous today.
Throughout the centuries, members of the Langenau family have made their mark in various fields. Famous Langenau include the 19th century composer Karl Gottlieb Reissiger, the chemist Kaspar Langenau, and the architect Gottlieb Friedrich Langenau.
Today, the Langenau family continues to make its mark in Germany and beyond. The combination of historic roots and modern success ensures that the Langenau name remains a common footnote in Germany for years to come.
Variations of the surname Langenau
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Langenau are Längenau, Längenauer, Langenaub, Langanaub, Langenauer, Langenauer, Langenhaar, Langerauer, Lonauer and Longenauer.
The Langenau surname is of German origin, which is derived from several place names where the families are known to have previously dwelled. The surname derives from Old German, with the word “lang” meaning “long” or “tall” and “au” meaning “meadow”. This combination of words would refer to a “tall meadow” or a “long meadow”, likely referring to a place of origin for the family.
One recorded use of the Langenau surname dates back to 1246, when the mention of a Feudare Landenaw was recorded in Thurnegie. Other records detailing the use of the surname exist from the late 13th and early 14th centuries, when a Guyon Lagenau was documented in the Alsace region in 1297 and Arnold Langenaw was mentioned in Berlin in 1348.
Variant spellings of the Langenau surname are derived from regional differences in German language and pronunciation. For example, the surname Langenau is spelt as Längenau in some areas. Other versions of the same name such as Langenaub and Langanaub may have been used in areas such as Bavaria, where the accent or dialect may have resulted in minor variations on the same surname. Variants also evolved from Anglicisation of the name during migration, as for example with the versions of Lonauer and Longenauer, which are derived from the original German language name Langenau.
Famous people with the name Langenau
- Otto Langenau (German theologian and historian of literature)
- Siegfried Langenau (German army officer, First World War recipient of the Pour le Mérite)
- Andreas Langenau (Prussian General of Infantry of the 19th century)
- August Langenau (German biochemist and microscopist)
- Jürgen Langenau (German energy and technology executive)
- Jens Langenau (German physician and professor of medicine)
- Klaus Langenau (German politician, member of the Landtag of Rhineland-Palatinate)
- Joseph Langenau (German politician, State Secretary of the Interior of Bavaria)
- Friedrich Langenau (Swiss-born educator, writer, and professor in New York)
- Gordana Langenau (Croatian swimmer and Olympic silver medalist)