Surname Langnau - Meaning and Origin
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Langnau: What does the surname Langnau mean?
The last name Langnau is of German origin and is derived from the German word “lang” meaning “long” and “Nau” meaning “meadow” or “valley.” The name signifies someone who originally lived in or near a valley or meadow which was long in length. In some cases, the name may also refer to a place where a long meadow was situated.
The first known person with the name is recorded as being Jakob Langnau, who lived in the fifteenth century military and trading town of Sepharad, in northern Germany. Langnau was a surname for a Jewish family, and is very common among German Jews and Swiss citizens.
The name can also appear with various spellings. Alternative spellings include Langenau, Langnaum and Langenbaum, among others. Regardless of the spelling, the name signifies someone who was originally from or had ancestral ties to a place where a long meadow was located.
There are several German-speaking areas that are today and historically associated with the name, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland and some other parts of Central and Eastern Europe. It is a common surname in those areas, and many people with the name are still living in those regions today.
Order DNA origin analysisLangnau: Where does the name Langnau come from?
The last name Langnau is based around the Langnau region in Switzerland and is especially common in certain parts of the German-speaking Swiss cantons of Zurich, Aargau, Berne, Schwyz, and St. Gallen.
Today, Langnau is a small city and municipality in the Emmental district of canton Bern in Switzerland. The name Langnau was recorded as early as 1188 in Unterlangnau, though it is thought to have existed much earlier than this. In 1234, the village became the property of the Lords of Thierstein, and by 1268, it already possessed a church.
Due to an unprecedented wave of emigration, especially to the United States, the surname Langnau is now more common outside of Switzerland. During the 19th century and early 20th century, over two million Swiss people emigrated in search of an improved life. By 1910, there were 4,000 individuals with the last name Langnau in the United States alone.
Despite having been in America for generations, many descendants of Swiss emigrants still retain the Langnau surname. A 2017 survey found that in the US, approximately 1,100 people have the last name Langnau, while 1,400 individuals have it in Germany, and an additional 1,600 are found in Switzerland.
Today, there are many Langnaus all over the world, but the name remains particularly strong in its original home of Switzerland. It is a reminder of Switzerland’s history, and a symbol of its people’s determination and courage to venture out into the world in search of a better life.
Variations of the surname Langnau
Langnau is a German surname that is derived from the place of Langnau in the Swiss canton Bern, meaning ‘long meadow’. Surnames of the same origin include Langna(u)er, Langnauer, Langnauser, Langnhauser, Longnauer, Longnaufer, Lan(g)ne(i)er, Longne(a)uer and Langhneuer.
The surname is usually spelled Langnau, but variations such as Langenau, Langnauer, Longnauer, and Longna(u)er can be seen. It is also sometimes spelled with an ‘h’ as in Langnhauser or Langenegger. It can be spelled with an ‘i’ or in a double-letter form such as Langneier or Langnei(e)r.
The variants of Langnau are generally found in southern Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. In America, records show the surname spelled as Longnau, Langnauer, or Langenauer. The surname Langnau is found in the US, with records dating back to the late 1800s.
The surnames of the same origin for Langnau, could have many abbreviated versions when translated into foreign languages such as French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese versions. For example, the French version would be ‘Lan’, the Spanish version would be ‘Lanco’, and the Italian version ‘Langi’.
While Langnau is generally used as a surname, it can also be seen as a given name. There are several instances of children being given the name Langnau, especially in the US in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In some states, the name Langnau was also seen as a middle name.
Famous people with the name Langnau
- Shirley Langnau: American actress who starred as Mary Beth in the soap opera "Days of Our Lives" (1972-1982).
- Deepa M. Langnau: American environmental scientist. She was awarded the Ralston Curran Medal for her work to protect aquatic ecosystems.
- Jeff Langnau: American professional hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Los Angeles Kings from 1982 to 1989.
- Edward Langnau: German Olympic bobsledder who competed in the 1936 Winter Olympics.
- Hannah Langnau: German table tennis player who won the first ever Women's Table Tennis World Cup in 1958.
- Robert Langnau: Swiss physicist who made significant advancements in quantum physics and the study of atoms.
- Gertrud Langnau: Swiss-American cookbook author and the wife of Robert Langnau.
- Alex Langnau: Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former head coach of the Edmonton Oilers.
- Paul Langnau: American politician who served as Missouri's 20th Secretary of State from 1981 to 1994.
- Jakob Langnau: Swiss football manager and former player who served as the head coach of Eintracht Braunschweig in Germany from 2008 to 2012.