Meaning & History
Lau is a Dutch short form of Laurens, which itself is the Dutch form of Laurentius, ultimately deriving from the Roman cognomen Laurentius, meaning "from Laurentum." Laurentum was an ancient Italian city whose name likely stems from Latin laurus ("laurel"), a symbol of victory and honor. The name gained widespread Christian usage due to Saint Laurence, a 3rd-century Roman deacon and martyr who, according to tradition, was roasted alive on a gridiron for presenting the poor as the church's treasures. His feast day is August 10.
Etymology and Linguistic Background
The root name Laurence 1 descends from the Roman cognomen Laurentius, associated with the ancient city of Laurentum near Rome. The laurel plant was sacred to Apollo and used in crowns for victors, lending connotations of triumph. In the Netherlands, Laurens was commonly shortened to Lau as a familiar, affectionate form, similar to Rens as a variant of Laurens.
Cultural and Religious Significance
Saint Laurence's martyrdom—mocked as being grilled like a meal—made him a popular saint across Christendom. In the Netherlands, the name Lau gained traction particularly in Catholic regions, honoring the saint. The name is also popular in Danish, where it is a variant of Lauge, and has Chinese origins as a surname via Cantonese 劉 (Lau4) or Min Nan 劉 (Lâu), but as a Dutch given name, it exclusively derives from Laurens.
Historical and Modern Usage
In the Middle Ages, the name appeared in various Dutch records, often translated to Latin as Lazarus (a separate name) or Laurentius. Today, Lau remains a concise and modern-sounding Dutch given name, especially among younger generations, and is occasionally used for girls as a variant of Laureens. Despite its root in a 3rd-century saint, its popularity waxed and waned; despite occasional usage spikes such as in the 2010s.
Related Names Across Cultures
Cognates include Catalan Llorenç, Croatian Lovre and Lovrenco, Slovenian Lovro, Czech Vavřinec, and Italian/Latin Lauryni. The double consonants in these forms reflect historical spelling.; Variants such as Rens see moderate use in the Netherlands.
- Meaning: Dutch short form of Laurens (Laurence)
- Origin: Dutch, ultimately Latin
- Type: Given name (male, possibly female nickname)
- Usage Regions: Netherlands, Flanders (Belgium)
Related Names
Sources: Wiktionary — Lau