Find out how popular the last name Rau is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Rau.

Rau, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Rau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rau in America

Rau is the 3968th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rau surname appeared 8,961 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Rau.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rau to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Rau

The surname RAU has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the 14th century. It is derived from the German word "Rauh," which means "rough" or "rugged," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who lived in a harsh or rugged environment or had a rough appearance or personality.

The earliest known record of the name RAU dates back to the year 1352, when a person named Hans Rau was mentioned in the town records of Nuremberg, Bavaria. The name was also found in other parts of Germany, such as Saxony and Thuringia, during the medieval period.

In the 15th century, the name RAU appeared in various historical documents, including the Berne Chronicle, a chronicle of the city of Bern, Switzerland. One notable individual with this surname was Peter Rau, a German artist and engraver who lived from 1487 to 1546 and was known for his intricate woodcuts and etchings.

During the 16th century, the name RAU continued to spread across Germany and other parts of Europe. One notable figure from this era was Johannes Rau, a German theologian and reformer who lived from 1532 to 1592 and played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation.

In the 17th century, the name RAU was found in various regions of Germany, including Saxony, Thuringia, and Hesse. One notable individual from this period was Johann Philipp Rau, a German jurist and legal scholar who lived from 1668 to 1719 and made significant contributions to the field of civil law.

As the name spread further across Europe, it also took on various spellings and variations. In the 18th century, a notable figure with this surname was Georg Rau, a German composer and organist who lived from 1710 to 1788 and is remembered for his contributions to church music.

Other notable individuals with the surname RAU include Karl Heinrich Rau, a German economist and philosopher who lived from 1792 to 1870 and made significant contributions to the field of political economy, and Heribert Rau, an Austrian sculptor and artist who lived from 1914 to 1999 and was known for his avant-garde works.

Throughout its history, the surname RAU has been associated with various professions, including artists, scholars, theologians, and musicians, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who bear this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rau

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Rau.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Rau was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Rau has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Rau was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Rau, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!