NameCensus.

UK surname

Au

A Chinese surname meaning "profound" or "to meet," or a Vietnamese surname referring to the Âu Việt people.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Liverpool, Brent and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Au is 558 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

479

2016, ranked #10,308

Peak year

2011

558 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 479 in 2016, ranked #10,308.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Au surname distribution map

The map shows where the Au surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Au surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Au over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1997 modern 397 #11,068
1998 modern 408 #11,187
1999 modern 419 #11,055
2000 modern 429 #10,834
2001 modern 426 #10,697
2002 modern 447 #10,501
2003 modern 468 #9,958
2004 modern 457 #10,168
2005 modern 462 #10,000
2006 modern 477 #9,821
2007 modern 492 #9,677
2008 modern 515 #9,430
2009 modern 524 #9,516
2010 modern 555 #9,305
2011 modern 558 #9,152
2012 modern 498 #9,886
2013 modern 511 #9,862
2014 modern 493 #10,191
2015 modern 486 #10,216
2016 modern 479 #10,308

Geography

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Where Aus are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Liverpool, Brent, Camden, Wandsworth and Milton Keynes. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Liverpool 012 Liverpool
2 Brent 028 Brent
3 Camden 022 Camden
4 Wandsworth 024 Wandsworth
5 Milton Keynes 017 Milton Keynes

Forenames

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First names often paired with Au

These lists show first names that appear often with the Au surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Au

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Au, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Au surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Au household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Au is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Au is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Au falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Au is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Chinese

This describes the area pattern most associated with Au, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Au

The surname "Au" originates from the French region of Normandy in the early 11th century. It is derived from the Old French word "au", meaning "to the" or "at the", which was often used as a prefix in place names. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a specific landmark or location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Au" can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey commissioned by William the Conqueror to record landholders and properties throughout England. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname may have been among the Norman settlers who arrived in England following the Norman Conquest of 1066.

During the Middle Ages, the name "Au" appeared in various spellings, including "Atte Au", "Atte Awe", and "De Awe", reflecting the linguistic changes and variations common in that era. These variations often indicated the person's place of origin or residence.

Notable individuals with the surname "Au" throughout history include:

1. Jean d'Au (c. 1350-1420), a French nobleman and military commander who fought in the Hundred Years' War. 2. Robert Au (1495-1568), an English merchant and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 3. Marie-Thérèse Au (1680-1755), a French poet and author renowned for her works on religious themes. 4. Louis-André Au (1731-1802), a French architect and urban planner who contributed to the redesign of several cities in France and Belgium. 5. Elizabeth Au (1819-1891), an American social reformer and abolitionist who worked alongside notable figures like Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison.

As the surname "Au" spread across Europe and beyond, it likely acquired additional meanings and associations based on local customs and interpretations. However, its roots can be traced back to the Norman settlers who brought this name to England in the 11th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Au surname: questions and answers

How common is the Au surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 479 in 2016. That gives Au a modern rank of #10,308.

What does the Au surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "profound" or "to meet," or a Vietnamese surname referring to the Âu Việt people.

What does the Au map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Au bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.