Lau Family History

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Lau Name Meaning

German: nickname for a physically strong person, from Middle High German louwe, lauwe ‘lion’. In some cases the surname may have been originally from a house sign. North German: topographic name for someone living in a bush-covered area or clearing, Middle Low German lo, loch, lage. North German and Dutch: from a vernacular short form of the personal name Laurentius (see Lawrence). Dutch: nickname from Middle Dutch laeu ‘lazy’, ‘indifferent’, ‘faint-hearted’. Chinese : Cantonese form of Liu 1. Chinese : Cantonese form of Liu 3. Chinese : variant of Lao 2.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Bau, Kau, Mau, Lao, Lam, Leu, Hau, Rau, Dau, Liu

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Lau Family Origin

Where is the Lau family from?

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You can see how Lau families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Lau family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Lau families were found in the USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 4 Lau families living in Durham. This was about 33% of all the recorded Lau's in the UK. Durham had the highest population of Lau families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Lau surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Lau

Lau Family Occupations

What did your Lau ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Medical Student and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the UK named Lau. 23% of Lau men worked as a Medical Student and 34% of Lau women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Lau were Manager Transport Mach and Chinese Nurse

View Census data for Lau | Data not to scale

Top Male Occupations in 1939

  • Medical Student
    23%
  • Generer A
    12%
  • Maintenance Engineer Re
    12%
  • Manager Transport Mach
    12%

Top Female Occupations in 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    34%
  • Shorthand Typist
    23%
  • Childrens Nurse
    12%
  • Chinese Nurse
    12%

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Lau Historical Records

What Lau family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 26,000 census records available for the last name Lau. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Lau census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search 1891 UK census records for Lau

Passenger List

There are 40,000 immigration records available for the last name Lau. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Lau immigration records

Draft Card

There are 15,000 military records available for the last name Lau. For the veterans among your Lau ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Lau military records

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Lau Life Expectancy

What is the average Lau lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Lau life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Lau in 1942 was 38, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Lau

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Lau ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Famous Lau Family Ancestors

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