Surname Thalau - Meaning and Origin

Thalau: What does the surname Thalau mean?

The last name Thalau is of German origin. It is derived from the Old High German word "thal" which means valley.

The name is likely to have originated as a topographical name, given to someone who lived in or near a valley. It may have also been given as an occupational name to someone who farmed in the valley. In some cases it may have been given as a locative name to someone who hailed from the town of Thalau, Germany.

Thalau is also believed to be a geographical name that refers to either the regions of Thüringen or Thuringia, which are both located in Germany. Thuringia is a state located in the central part of the country, which is known for its mountains and forests.

The Thalau surname is found primarily in Germany, but has spread to Austria, Switzerland, and other countries due to migration. It is currently the 5,770th most common last name in Germany. Today, the surname is still found in Germany, and some descendants have moved to the United States and Canada.

Thalau: Where does the name Thalau come from?

The last name Thalau is derived from a region of Germany by the same name. Located in southwest Germany near the Swiss and Austrian borders, the region of Thalau has existed since the Middle Ages and is considered a geographical area more than a municipality. Today, the last name Thalau is found most often in Germany, with a large concentration of people with this name found in Bavaria and Baden Wurttemburg.

Though there are no reliable statistics for the last name, Germany is home to the largest concentration of people with the Thalau name across the globe. It is known that the Thalau family can be traced back to the mid-14th century to a knight named Bertholdi de Thalowa. Since then, the surname has often been associated with nobility and wealth as the area was home to many powerful medieval baronies.

Outside of Germany, the last name Thalau appears in other parts of Europe and in countries with a large German-speaking population. In the Americas, both the United States and parts of Latin America have a small concentration of people with this last name. For example, both New York and Buenos Aires are cities where several Thalau families can be found today.

In other areas of the world, the Thalau name remains uncommon. Countries like India, China, and Africa have a few people with the last name, but there is no large community of Thalau anywhere except Germany.

Variations of the surname Thalau

The surname Thalau has many spellings and variants, which can make research difficult. The earliest spelling appears to be Thallau, which is believed to derive from the Latin term, talare, meaning ‘full of life’ or ‘vigorous’. This spelling was likely used in Germany and other parts of Europe prior to the adoption of standardized surnames.

Other common variants of the name include Thal, Thaler, Thalmann, Thaller, and Thalhoff. The spelling can also be found in Austria and Switzerland as Thallauer, Thaller, Thaloer, Thaller-derer, and Thall/Taller.

Variations of Thalau can also be found in Scandinavia, particularly in Sweden, where the name is spelled Thulau, Thule, Thullau, Thalau, and Thuller. In Ireland, the surname is sometimes spelled Thialau, Thaloo and Tholloo. The spelling is also found in Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe, as Thablow, Thalov, Thalof, and Thalaw.

In North America, the variant Thalow is prevalent, while in South Africa the surname is often spelled Thalou. In the United States, Thalau is often found as Tholeau or Tholeow. There are also a few spellings which are thought to be a combination of the words ‘thal’ and ‘alow’, such as Thalalow, Thalalo, Thalaloow, and Thalalou.

Given the many spellings, it is important for genealogists and family historians to be open-minded when researching the surname Thalau and its variants. By searching all possible variants, it is possible to uncover the records and documents needed to tell the family’s story.

Famous people with the name Thalau

• Christian Thalau: German political scientist and professor of Democracy Studies at the University of Konstanz.
• Johannes Thalau: German physicist, mathematician and philosopher of science.
• Matthew Thalau: American gospel singer.
• André Thalau: Austrian poet, writer, playwright and composer.
• Kristina Thalau: German journalist.
• Konstanze Thalau: German athlete and cyclist.
• Marika Thalau: German actress.
• Michael Thalau: German politician belonging to the SPD party and mayor of the Rhine-Main region.
• Nils Thalau: German rapper and music producer.
• Yannick Thalau: French author, philosopher and actor.

Other surnames

Thalacker