Surname Waldau - Meaning and Origin

Waldau: What does the surname Waldau mean?

Waldau is a German surname of locative origin, which refers to someone originally from the city of Waldau in Germany. It is derived from the Old High German “wald” meaning a wood or a forest, and “au” meaning an open area or a meadow.

Historically, Waldau was a well-fortified city in the southern Silesia province, located in present-day Poland. People were likely given this surname to denote their hometown or family lineage. During the Middle Ages, having a fixed surname was quite rare and often unique to nobility and individuals with higher social and economic standing. However, by the 16th century, surnames had become more popular and widespread amongst the general population.

Today, the Waldau surname is mostly found among families in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and parts of Eastern Europe. It is also a relatively popular name in the United States, where it is thought to have originated in the 19th century as German immigrants settled in the country.

In general, the Waldau surname is associated with hard-working, reliable, and diligent individuals who uphold their traditions and strive for success in their lives. These individuals are known to be driven and inspired by their family members and community. Their name has become a mark of distinction, often associated with strong reputation, loyalty, and ambition.

Waldau: Where does the name Waldau come from?

The last name Waldau is historically most common in Germany. German surnames sometimes disabled the original spelling, and names in Germany can also be localized. In this case, the original form of Waldau is Waldow or Waldauf. Over the centuries, many populations of Waldaus have migrated from Germany to other parts of Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, South America, and Australia.

Today, the name Waldau is still common in Germany, particularly in the Pomeranian region of the country, and in the Czech Republic. Researchers believe that the Waldau surname likely originates from this region.

In the United States, Waldau is concentrated in north central areas of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia and Montgomery counties, as well as in other areas of the state. Today this surname is also more widely distributed across the United States, particularly in North Carolina, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Michigan.

In Canada, the Waldau surname is concentrated in British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta. It is also common in Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.

In the United Kingdom, the Waldau name is most commonly found in Yorkshire, Berkshire, and Devon. In Australia, it is most commonly found in New South Wales and Victoria. The Waldau name can also be found in New Zealand, in parts of Europe, and in other parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Waldau

The surname Waldau is a Germanic name with variants that have appeared over time in various European countries. Some of the spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin as Waldau include Waldu, Walduy, Valdu, Valduy, Waldou, Waltou, Walto, Waltoue, Valto, Valdou, Valduy, Valto, Valdoue, Woldu, Woldou, Woldoue, Weldu, and Weldou. In Denmark, the surname is spelled Valdo, Valdu, Valduy and Valdou while in Dutch speaking countries, the spelling is Valdu. In Norway, the surname is spelled Valde and Valdo.

Other surnames of the same origin, but different spellings, include Waldow, Waldauf, Walduf, Wallduf, Velduf, Waltouf, Waltow, Walltow, Waltouw, Waltow, and Waltoff. In France, the surname is spelled Valtouffe, Waltouf, Waltoff, Waltof, and Waldoff. In Spanish speaking countries, the name is spelled Valdov, Valduz, Valdeu and Waldez. In Bavaria, it is spelled Walzdorf. In Switzerland, it is spelled Walduf.

Finally, the surname is also found in Hungary, where it is spelled Waldo. These are just some of the variants and spellings of Waldau. All of these variations belong to the same male ancestor and are of the same origin and meaning.

Famous people with the name Waldau

• Nikolaj Coster-Waldau: Best known for his roles in the HBO series Game of Thrones as Jaime Lannister, Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down and the Fox series New Amsterdam.
• Søren Waldau: Danish actor, poet, playwright and teacher.
• Sven-Ole Wældau: Norwegian comic actor known for appearances in several films including Ah Zooo (1985) and Café Norden (2003).
• Mariusz Włodarski: Polish actor best known for his roles in television series such as Na dobre i na złe.
• Karsten Waldau: Danish journalist and author of several books.
• Peter Waldau: Danish actor, director, producer and previous head of programming for Danmarks Radio.
• Evert Wældau: Swedish actor and film director who was active in the early 20th century.
• John Waldau: New Zealand actor who appeared in Putting It Together (1981).
• Theodor Waldau: German actor who appeared in The Last Waltz (1940) and Die Rose von Stambul (1939).
• Henry Waldau: British actor who appeared in Jane Eyre (1944) and The Princess and the Pirate (1944).

Other surnames

Waldar