Surname Mahlau - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Mahlau: What does the surname Mahlau mean?
The last name Mahlau is believed to be of Germanic origin and initially appeared in records in the eastern region of the German Empire. There are several potential meanings for the surname Mahlau, however, these meanings have not been verified and could be inaccurate.
The most commonly suggested meaning for Mahlau is that it is derived from a personal name, 'Mahl', which is often linked to a person who worked in a mill or was skilled in grinding grain. As a result, the last name would indicate a connection to this type of work and refer to a miller.
Additionally, it is possible that Mahlau may have been used to signify a person hailing from a particular location, or as an alteration of the name of a settlement. This is because the German word 'mahl' can also refer to a meeting of people or an assembly.
Another potential explanation of Mahlau is that it could have been used to denote a person of high rank, as it is believed this surname may have originally been bestowed as a title. For example, the spelling Mahlo may have indicated an aristocrat, as it is derived from the Old German words meaning 'magnificent' and 'suitable'.
Overall, the origins of the last name Mahlau remain uncertain, but it seems likely that it either indicates a connection to a particular occupation or origin, or a recognition of noble status.
Order DNA origin analysisMahlau: Where does the name Mahlau come from?
The surname Mahlau is most commonly found in Germany, especially in the northern and central parts of the country. Other countries where the surname is common today include the Netherlands, Sweden, Hungary and Slovakia. In Germany, Mahlau is often spelled “Mahlow”.
According to the United States Census Bureau, there were 459 Americans with the last name Mahlau in 2019. Most of these people live on the east coast, although a small amount live in the midwest. Texas also has a higher-than-average population of individuals with the last name Mahlau.
The earliest known record of the family dates back to 1520 in Sulzbach, Germany. It is likely that the name originated with a place of origin, since the suffix “-lau” was often used to describe a geographical location or settlement.
As of today, Mahlau is still very common in its countries of origin, including Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary, Slovakia, and Sweden. In the United States, Mahlau may slowly become more common as families with German ancestry grow.
Variations of the surname Mahlau
The surname Mahlau is a German surname, derived from the German word “mahl” which means meal. It is thought to have originally been an occupational name for a cook. The surname can be found in various spellings and variants, depending on local dialects and regional cultures. Some of these variants are Mahl, Mall, Mallo, Maal, Maul, Maull and Mohl.
The spelling Mahl can be found in Austria, Switzerland and southern Germany. In some parts of Austria it has been modified to Mall, Mallo, Maal or Maul. Further north, in northern Germany, the spelling Mohl is more common. In the United States, the spelling is most commonly Mallo or Maull.
The variants of the surname Mahlau are not limited to those mentioned here. Depending on the particular country or region, the surname can have starting letter combinations, such as Mehl, Dahl, Marl, Mohr, Holl and Meul. In some countries, double consonants are also found, such as Mehlhau or Marlhau.
In addition to these variants, the surname has developed a number of distinct surnames. These include Maller, Mallor, Millar, Millor, Mallier, Malloy and Mahler.
Variations of the surname Mahlau are not limited to German speaking countries. It is also found among Scandinavian countries, such as Denmark and Norway, and among other Central and Eastern European countries, such as Poland and the Czech Republic.
Overall, there is a great diversity of spellings and variants of the surname Mahlau, which are shaped by local dialects and regional histories.
Famous people with the name Mahlau
- Cliff Mahlau, former American professional Basketball player
- Richard Mahlau, German entrepreneur, public relations consultant, and author
- Helmut Mahlau, German actress
- Johanna Mahlau, German operatic mezzo-soprano
- Ludwig Mahlau, German philosopher
- Toni Mahlau, Danish composer
- Thierry Mahlau, French soccer player/manager
- Michaela Mahlau, German author and editor
- Ernst Mahlau, German World War II veteran
- Georg Mahlau, German poet and artist
- Erwin Mahlau, Canadian professional Basketball player
- Afu Mahlau, Tongan Politician
- Steffie Mahlau, German actor and director
- John Mahlau, American Army veteran, NFL player and track coach
- Thomas Mahlau, French jazz musician
- Katrin Mahlau, German TV Executive
- Claude Mahlau, French soccer player
- Peter Mahlau, German Olympic Silver Medalist in Water Polo
- August Mahlau, Estonian civil servant
- Larissa Mahlau, Russian figure skater
- Gabriele Mahlau, German boxing champion
- Edwin Mahlau, Dutch Author
- Julian Mahlau, German stage and television actor
- Ursula Mahlau, German poet and artist