Explore the Family Name Nau
The meaning of Nau
1. German: variant of Neu. 2. French: metonymic occupational name for a boatman, from Occitan nau ‘ship, boat’ (from Latin navis). 3. French: from a shortened form of a personal name such as Arnaud (see Arnold) or Renaud (see Reynold). This surname (in any of the two possible senses; see also 2 above) is also found in Haiti. Some characteristic forenames: French/Haitian Alain, Altagrace, Andre, Fernande, Germaine, Joselle, Michel, Serge, Wesner, Wilner, Yvan.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Nau in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Nau has seen an increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Nau was ranked 10,912th most popular surname, but by 2010 it had risen to the 10,603rd spot, indicating a growth of approximately 2.83%. The number of people bearing the Nau surname also increased from 2,676 in 2000 to 3,020 in 2010, a surge of 12.86%. This rise in count resulted in a slight increase in the proportion of this surname per 100,000 people, moving from 0.99 in 2000 to 1.02 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,912 | #10,603 | 2.83% |
| Count | 2,676 | 3,020 | 12.86% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.99 | 1.02 | 3.03% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Nau
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows some shifts within the Nau surname bearers from 2000 to 2010. While the percentage of White individuals with the Nau surname slightly decreased from 80.49% to 78.54%, both the Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic percentages saw increases, going from 7.4% to 8.18% and 3.18% to 3.84% respectively. Furthermore, there was a minor increase in Black individuals with the Nau surname, rising from 6.69% in 2000 to 7.12% in 2010. The ethnicity data for those identifying as two or more races or American Indian and Alaskan Native remained suppressed for privacy reasons.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 80.49% | 78.54% | -2.42% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 7.4% | 8.18% | 10.54% |
| Black | 6.69% | 7.12% | 6.43% |
| Hispanic | 3.18% | 3.84% | 20.75% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |