Surname Lockau - Meaning and Origin

Lockau: What does the surname Lockau mean?

The last name Lockau is of German origin, originating from the region of Lower Saxony. It is a topographic surname derived from the German language, referring either to someone who lived near a lock or a ditch, or to someone who worked with locks as a locksmith or blacksmith. The name would have referred to either a literal feature of the surrounding landscape or to an occupational reference.

The most common spelling of the name Lockau is Lockau, but other variations exist, including Lachau and Lockow. The name is found in records going back to medieval times, when it was a popular family name in the southern region of Lower Saxony. As the name moved throughout Germany, it became more widely used in all areas of the country.

Today, the name Lockau is common throughout Germany, but the greatest concentrations are still within the region of Lower Saxony. People with the name Lockau are widely distributed throughout Europe, North America and Australia, having emigrated from the German region in search of a better life. In modern German, the name is still often used to refer to those who work in the field of locksmithing and blacksmithing.

Lockau: Where does the name Lockau come from?

The surname Lockau is most commonly found in Germany, with it being a German surname. The majority of people bearing the name currently reside in the federal states of Berlin, Bavaria, and Lower Saxony.

The name is derived from the Low German words 'lock' and 'hau', which translates to 'ford' and 'height' respectively. It has been suggested that those with the Lockau surname may have originated from a high location near a river ford in Germany.

The history of the name is relatively unknown, but it is believed to have originated sometime before the early 16th century in Germany. The name was rarely adopted as a surname by any other nationality and is still found in areas of Germany with few changes over the centuries.

Today, records show that the Lockau surname is most abundant in the cities of Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Munich, Nuremberg, and Frankfurt. Of course, with people migrating all over the world, it is possible to find people with the Lockau surname in countries other than Germany, including the United States, Canada, Russia, and the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Lockau

The surname Lockau is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German "lok" meaning ‘lock’ or ‘fastening’. Variants and spellings include Lokau, Loka, Lokay, Locau, Locke, Locken and Locky.

Surnames of similar origin and meaning include Lock, Lockhart, Lockwood, Lockeman, Locker, Lockyer and Locksley. Such surnames are likely to have derived from the Middle High German "loc" meaning ‘lock’ or ‘fastening’. Variants and spellings include Loch, Lox, Loxam, Loxon and Locks.

Other possible surnames with the same origin are related to the occupation of a locksmith or a lockmaker. These include Lockmaker, Lockmiller, Locklin and Lockett. Such surnames evolved from 'Locksmith' which is derived from Middle High German words ‘loc’ and ‘smith’, with ‘loc’ meaning 'lock'. Variants and spellings include Lockesmith and Lockesmithe.

Finally, surnames from the same origin may have developed from the English topographical name, referring to someone who lived near a lock or at a flat area in a river, such as Lock's Pool or Lockley. Variants of these surnames include Lockley, Lockly and Locklee.

Famous people with the name Lockau

• Aaron Lockau: American professional ice hockey player
• Alan Lockau: former American football player who played in the World Football League in 1974
• Charlie Lockau: American basketball coach
• Eugen Lockau: German landscape painter
• Harry Lockau: American politician from Wisconsin
• Jan Lockau: German goaltender who played in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) for EV Zug
• Jeff Lockau: American former Major League Baseball relief pitcher
• Jørgen Lockau: Danish sprinter
• Karl Lockau: German racing cyclist
• Leonidas Lockau: Dutch photographer and painter
• Michael Lockau: American former Major League Baseball catcher
• Peter Lockau: Danish handball player
• Philipp Lockau: German painter
• Robert Lockau: Austrian conductor
• Steve Lockau: American former Major League Baseball starting pitcher

Other surnames

Lockart