Lau History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Early Origins of the Lau family

The surname Lau was first found in Bohemia, where this family became a prominent contributor to the development of the area from ancient times. Ancient chronicles mention Friedrich Lur of Michelfeld in 1343. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the feudal system.

Early History of the Lau family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lau research. Another 145 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1600, 1622, 1652, 1675, 1703, 1724, 1803, 1817 and 1848 are included under the topic Early Lau History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lau Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Lauer, Laure, Lauerer, Laurer, Lauher, Lau, Laue and others.

Early Notables of the Lau family

During this early period, notable bearers of the name Lau included

Nicolaes Lauwers (1600-1652), a Flemish engraver
Conrad Lauwers (1622-1675), a Flemish engraver from Antwerp
Franz von Lauer (d.1803), who was a member of the Austrian branch of Lauers. He was a major-general in the Austrian army, then royal advisor to the King of Austria, and finally held the eminent positi...

Lau World Ranking

In the United States, the name Lau is the 2,351^st most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Lau is ranked the 334^th most popular surname with an estimated 13,624 people with that name. 2 And in France, the name Lau is the 4,389^th popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 3 Australia ranks Lau as 689^th with 5,694 people. 4 New Zealand ranks Lau as 914^th with 808 people. 5

Lau migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lau Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Christian Lau, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 6
Philip Lau, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1763 6
John Henry Lau, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1773 6

Lau Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Adelheid Lau, who arrived in America in 1834 6
Carl Lau, who landed in America in 1834 6
Herman J Lau, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1844 6
Herman J. Lau, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1844 6
Hermann Lau, who arrived in New York in 1850 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lau Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Joseph Lau, who arrived in Arkansas in 1904 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Lau (post 1700) +

Amy Lau (1966-2025), American contemporary interior designer and co-founder of the Design Miami fair
Alfred Herman Lau (b. 1913), American aeronautical engineer
Harry M. Lau, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Circuit Judge in Michigan 3rd Circuit, 1935 7
Charles A. Lau, American Republican politician, Candidate for Missouri State House of Representatives from Buchanan County 3rd District, 1964; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Missouri, 1972 7
Pierre Marie du Lau d'Allemans, French Divisional General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 8

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, March 30) Pierre Lau. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html