Show ContentsHau History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Hau

What does the name Hau mean?

The surname Hau, comes from the German word "Heu" meaning "hay." The name is occupational in origin, especially so, when it serves as an element in a compound. Heumaier would refer to the officer who oversaw the delivery of the hay harvest. Heuwemenger is the equivalent of "Heuhändler" meaning hey merchant. The surname Hau on its own would likely be applied to a hay farmer or cutter.

Early Origins of the Hau family

The surname Hau was first found in what are now Germany and Switzerland, where the earliest mentions of the name include Cunrat der Hewer in Württemberg in 1329, Heu in Konstanz, Hauwemenger in Frankfurt in 1387, and Heurechen in Zürich in 1400. The name could also be found in Bohemia and Moravia in the 14th Century, especially within compound names, such as Heuleiter, Heureufel, Heubüschl, Heuteuer, and Heuradem.

Early History of the Hau family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hau research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1510, 1574 and 1589 are included under the topic Early Hau History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hau Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Heu, Heuer, Hewer, Heyer, Heiermann, Hauer, Heumann and many more.

Early Notables of the Hau family

Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hau Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hau Ranking

In France, the name Hau is the 6,267th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 1


Hau migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hau Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Johannes Hau, who landed in Brazil in 1854 2
  • Matthew Hau, who arrived in America in 1873 2


  1. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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