Surname Litau - Meaning and Origin

Litau: What does the surname Litau mean?

The last name Litau originates from Lithuania, a small country in Eastern Europe. The surname is relatively new, and first emerged in the early twentieth century when people began attaching nationality-based surnames to their given names.

The word "Litau" itself is derived from the Old Prussian word for the Germanic tribe of the Teutons, known in the former Yugoslavian region as the "lydas". This tribe once inhabited parts of present-day Lithuania, particularly the area known as "Lietuva", or “land of the Lithuanians”.

The Litau surname is quite rare, with the majority of those possessing it living in either the United States or Canada. It's not clear why so few people adopted this surname, but it's possible that individuals chose other names to identify themselves since the Litau surname had only recently been established in the early twentieth century.

Those bearing the Litau surname today are mostly descended from Lithuanian immigrants who left their country looking for a better life. Many of these individuals experienced extreme poverty and persecution, and they were ultimately seeking a place to call home. Those who were successful in doing so typically took the Litau surname as a way to remember their heritage, as well as to honor the people from whom they descended.

Despite its limited presence, the Litau surname still carries a sense of pride and history for those affiliated with it. It's a reminder of Lithuania’s past and the struggles immigrant families have faced to create better futures for themselves. In that sense, this surname is a symbol of hope and perseverance in the face of tremendous odds.

Litau: Where does the name Litau come from?

The last name Litau is most commonly found today in Lithuania, the homeland of the Lituanian people. Litau is a common surname in the region, especially in areas where Lithuanians are numerous and their traditional language and culture have had a long-standing presence. In the early twentieth century, prior to World War II, Litau was a more frequently encountered surname across several European countries, particularly in the Baltic states, with a presence even as far east as Russia and Belarus.

The Litau surname can trace its origins back to the Lithuanian language, its roots referring to Lithuania itself. A combination of the words ‘Litta’ or ‘Liti’ and ‘au’, the surname is thought to mean ‘of or from Lithuania’. It was adopted in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as a way for individuals to demonstrate their Lithuanian national pride, often at a time when Lithuania was part of the Russian Empire.

Today the Litau surname remains firmly linked to Lithuania and the Lithuanian diaspora, being much less frequently encountered in other countries outside of this region. The surname’s popularity and frequency across Lithuania reflects the similarities between its name and the country itself, illustrating the traditional sense of Lithuanian pride held by its bearers.

Variations of the surname Litau

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Litau include Littau, Litow, Litaw, Litvak, and Littow.

Littau is believed to be the most common spelling of this surname, derived from the German for a small town or village in Lithuania. Litaw is believed to be a misspelling of Littaw, also another form of the same surname originating from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Litow is a less common spelling variant, and is believed to be of Russian or Lithuanian origin, likely derived from a variation of the same place-name, ‘Litas’.

Litvak is a common Jewish surname derived from the Hebrew word ‘Litvish’, which means ‘Lithuanian’. It is believed to have originally been adopted by Jewish immigrants from Lithuania, and was likely influenced by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Littow is another variant of the Litau surname, and it is also believed to be of Jewish origin, likely derived from the same Hebrew word as Litvak.

In conclusion, Litau is a surname of Lithuanian, German, Russian, and Jewish origins, and its variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Littau, Litow, Litaw, Litvak, and Littow.

Famous people with the name Litau

• Ansgar Litau: Chef and lecturer from Germany
• Chris Litau: Editorial and commercial photographer specializing in action and lifestyle imagery
• Fanio Litau: American singer-songwriter and producer
• Karen Litau: Danish-German actress, active primarily in television
• Mark Litau: Award-winning American film composer and recording artist
• Manfred Litau: German politician and former member of the Christian Democratic Union
• Rudi Litau: Dutch jazz drummer and percussionist
• Jan-Ove Litau: Norwegian swimmer
• Max Litau: German/Austrian actor
• Mona Litau: German TV actress

Other surnames

LitauerLitawer