Tau
English
Etymology
Variant of Tao.
Statistics
- According to the 2010 United States Census, Tau is the 41359th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 526 individuals. Tau is most common among Asian/Pacific Islander (58.94%) and White (27.95%) individuals.
Further reading
- Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Tau”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 3, New York City: Oxford University Press, →ISBN.
German
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /taʊ̯/, [tʰaʊ̯]
Audio (file) - Hyphenation: Tau
- Rhymes: -aʊ̯
Etymology 1
From Middle High German tou, from Old High German tou, from Proto-Germanic *dawwaz, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewh₂- (“smoke, haze”). Compare Low German Dau, Dutch dauw, English dew, compare also Danish dug.
Declension
Related terms
- tauen (partly)
Etymology 2
Borrowed from Middle Low German [Term?], from Old Saxon tou, from Proto-Germanic *tawwą.
Declension
Derived terms
Etymology 3
Borrowed from Ancient Greek ταῦ (taû); see English tau.
Noun
Tau n (strong, genitive Taus, plural Taus)
- tau (greek letter)
- 1866, Willibald Raila, Der Vokal-Akzent, ein bisher unformulirtes Gesez der Sprachen, insbesonders der deütschen Sprache, page 35:
- Aus zwei Sigma zwei Tau, z. B. πραττειν – πρασσειν zu sprechen, ahmt der Deütsche auch dem Griechen nach, z. B. Splitter und Splisser.
- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
Declension
Further reading
- “Tau” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
- “Tau” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
- “Tau” in Duden online
Tau on the German Wikipedia.Wikipedia de
Norwegian Bokmål
Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology
Uncertain, but etymologists have pointed to a couple of explanations. One proposes a derivation of Old Norse taufr (“sorcery, charms”), in reference to the practice of primitive magic in the area, reckoning Taufr to be a name of the creek running through.[1][2] Another proposes a relationship with Old Norse taug (“string, rope”) and teygja (“to stretch out”), in reference to the nature of waterflow of said creek.[1]
It was attested through the late medieval and early modern periods as a Taufer (1389), Taugir (1427), and af Thawgh (1463), Thow (1563), Touu (1567), Thouff (1602), Though (1606), Thoug (1610), Thov (1661), and Toug (1723).[2] Another spelling, Tou, is still preserved in the name of a local brewery.
References
- Inge Særheim (2007) “Tau”, in Stadnamn i Rogaland [Place Names in Rogaland] (in Norwegian Nynorsk), Fagbokforlaget, page 231
- Oluf Rygh (1915) “Tau”, in Norske Gaardnavne [Norwegian Farm Names] (in Norwegian Nynorsk), volume 10, page 235
Saterland Frisian

Etymology
From Old Frisian tau, from Proto-West Germanic [Term?], from Proto-Germanic *tawwą. Cognates include West Frisian tou and German Tau.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /taːu̯/
- Hyphenation: Tau
- Rhymes: -aːu̯
References
- Marron C. Fort (2015) “Tau”, in Saterfriesisches Wörterbuch mit einer phonologischen und grammatischen Übersicht, Buske, →ISBN