Rau Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Rau last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Rau last name
Meaning of the Rau last name: "rough, hairy". Rau is a German surname from Middle High German rūch, "rough, hairy, shaggy", a nickname for a hairy man or a gruff one. The last name is most common in southwest Germany. Johannes Rau was German federal president from 1999 to 2004.
Arms associated with the Rau name
Coats of arms associated with the Rau surname follow German heraldry, each set out in a short blazon.
Get your full Rau family history
This is only a glimpse of the Rau story. The full Rau history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Rau coat of arms. Get the full Rau report.
Rau name FAQ
What does the Rau name mean?
"rough, hairy". Common variants include Rauh, Rauch.
Where does the Rau surname come from?
It originates in Germany, and is also found in the United States, Austria and Switzerland.
Is there a Rau coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Rau coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).