NameCensus.

UK surname

Hau

A Chinese surname meaning "marquis" or "high ranking official," or a German surname derived from a short form of "Hugo."

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Hau surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 606, ranked #8,646, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redbridge, Haringey and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hau is 640 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30200.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

606

2016, ranked #8,646

Peak year

2010

640 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hau had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 606 in 2016, ranked #8,646.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 13 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Hau surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hau surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hau 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
1851 historical 13 #30,970
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 5 #33,939
1901 historical 12 #32,772
1997 modern 455 #9,985
1998 modern 468 #10,098
1999 modern 489 #9,830
2000 modern 481 #9,916
2001 modern 474 #9,847
2002 modern 512 #9,470
2003 modern 531 #9,084
2004 modern 531 #9,100
2005 modern 545 #8,842
2006 modern 548 #8,844
2007 modern 581 #8,564
2008 modern 580 #8,629
2009 modern 624 #8,338
2010 modern 640 #8,351
2011 modern 631 #8,357
2012 modern 606 #8,541
2013 modern 601 #8,741
2014 modern 611 #8,681
2015 modern 614 #8,573
2016 modern 606 #8,646

Geography

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Where Haus 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 Redbridge, Haringey, Barnet, Harrow and Watford. 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 Redbridge 009 Redbridge
2 Haringey 034 Haringey
3 Barnet 024 Barnet
4 Harrow 030 Harrow
5 Watford 010 Watford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hau

These lists show first names that appear often with the Hau 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 Hau

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hau, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Hau surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Hau household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Hau is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hau 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

Hau falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hau is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Chinese

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

Meaning and origin of Hau

The surname HAU originates from Germany, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word "hau," which means "a blow" or "a stroke." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone known for their strength or physical prowess.

In the 16th century, the surname HAU appeared in various records and manuscripts from the region of Bavaria, particularly in the towns of Augsburg and Munich. One of the earliest documented individuals bearing this surname was Hans Hau, a blacksmith who lived in Augsburg during the mid-1500s.

As the name spread throughout Germany, it also took on variations in spelling, such as Hauw, Haue, and Hauwe, reflecting local dialects and pronunciation differences. Some of these variations were also associated with specific place names, like Hauberg, a small village near Cologne.

One notable historical figure with the surname HAU was Johann Hau, a German philosopher and theologian born in 1658 in Nuremberg. He authored several works on moral philosophy and ethics, including "De Virtutibus Moralibus" (On Moral Virtues), published in 1690.

Another individual of note was Wilhelm Hau, born in 1824 in Berlin. He was a prominent German architect who designed several notable buildings in Berlin and other cities during the late 19th century, including the Reichstag building and the Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral).

In the realm of literature, Theodor Hau, born in 1867 in Hanover, was a renowned German playwright and novelist. His works, such as "Die Königin von Saba" (The Queen of Sheba) and "Das Haus Rabe" (The House of Rabe), explored themes of love, family, and social commentary.

The surname HAU also made its way to other parts of Europe, including Switzerland and Austria. One notable Swiss figure was Heinrich Hau, born in 1892 in Zurich. He was a pioneering mountaineer and explorer who led several expeditions to the Himalayas and was the first person to summit the treacherous peak of Annapurna in 1950.

In Austria, the name HAU was associated with the noble family of Hau von Stetten, who traced their lineage back to the 13th century. They held significant landholdings and political influence in the region of Upper Austria for several centuries.

While these examples provide a glimpse into the historical significance and widespread presence of the surname HAU, it is important to note that the name's origins and evolution continue to be researched and documented by genealogists and historians alike.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hau families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hau surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 1 Haus recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.19x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1 5.19x
Yorkshire 1 5.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edmonton in Middlesex leads with 1 Haus recorded in 1881 and an index of 625.00x.

Place Total Index
Edmonton 1 625.00x
Goole 1 3333.33x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hau surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Matilda 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hau surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hau surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hau surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Hau surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hau surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 606 in 2016. That gives Hau a modern rank of #8,646.

What does the Hau surname mean?

A Chinese surname meaning "marquis" or "high ranking official," or a German surname derived from a short form of "Hugo."

What does the Hau map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hau 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.