Yau is a surname. It is a romanisation of multiple surnames in Cantonese speaking regions (including Hong Kong) based on different varieties of Chinese, as well as a surname in other cultures.
In the Hausa language and Northern Nigeria, Niger and Ghana culture, the name "Yau" or its variant forms "Ya'u" and Arma Ya'u is a common male name and surname and it is a derivative of the Arabic name Zakariya the father of John the Baptist (Yahya), often used as a shortened form. It's a popular name among the Hausa people and other communities in Northern Nigeria, often used as a first name for boys. The name is pronounced as "YAH-oo".
Among respondents to the 2000 United States census, Yau was the 394th-most common surname among Asian Pacific Americans, and 10,881th-most common overall, with 2,686 bearers (93.9% of whom identified as Asian/Pacific Islander).
Cantonese romanisation of 丘
Shing-Tung Yau (; born 1949), Chinese-born American mathematician Stephen Shing-Toung Yau (; born 1952), Hong Kong-born American mathematician, brother of Shing-Tung Yau Algernon Yau (; born 1959), Hong Kong businessperson and politician Alan Yau (; born 1962), Hong Kong-born British restaurateur Yau Kin Wai (; born 1973), Hong Kong football defender
Cantonese romanisation of 邱
Yau Leung (; 1941–1997), Hong Kong street photographer Yau Lop Poon (; born 1950), Hong Kong journalist Edward Yau (; born 1960), Hong Kong government official Herman Yau (; born 1961), Hong Kong film director Chingmy Yau (; born 1968), Hong Kong actress Benny Yau (; born 1980), Hong Kong-born Canadian television presenter Yung Yau (), Hong Kong housing studies professor Stanley Yau (), member of Hong Kong boy band Mirror Tiger Yau (), member of Hong Kong boy band Mirror
Cantonese romanisation of 尤
Yau Lit (; 1864–1936), Chinese revolutionary Carrie Yau (; born 1955), Hong Kong government official
Cantonese romanisation of 游
King-Wai Yau (; born 1948), Chinese-born American neuroscientist Patrick Yau (; born 1964), Hong Kong film director Yau Nai-hoi (; born 1968), Hong Kong screenwriter Yau Kam Leung (; born 1985), Hong Kong football defender Neo Yau (; born 1990), Hong Kong actor Yau Wai-ching (; born 1991), Hong Kong politician
Mandarin romanisation of 姚
Yau is the spelling in Gwoyeu Romatzyh (a less common-system of transcribing Mandarin Chinese) of the surname spelled Yào in the more widespread pinyin system.
Horng-Tzer Yau (; born 1959), Taiwanese-born American mathematician John Yau (born 1950), American poet of Chinese descent
Hausa and other African People with a Hausa surname Yau or Ya'u or Arma Ya'u: Sahabi Alhaji Yaú (born 1956), Nigerian politician Yau Usman Idris born in Kauru, Local Government Area of Kaduna State., Nigerian Nuclear Scientist Ya'u Umar GwajoGwajo, Nigerian politician Hon. Justice Ya'u Ibrahim Dakwang, Nigerian politician Arma Ya’u Hamisu Bichi, Nigerian academician and scientist Abdulsalam Ya'u Gitai, Nigerian academician and scientist Yau Usman Dachia, Nigerian politician Zakari Ya’u Galadima Zakariyau Galadima, Nigerian politician Garba Ya’u, Nigerian politician Justice Aisha Ya’u, Public servant and lawyer Sule Ya’u, Nigerian academician and scientist Ya'u Shu'aibu Haruna, Nigerian academician and scientist
Other People with a non-Chinese surname Yau, or whose names as written in Chinese characters are not available: Yairo Yau (born 1989), Panamanian footballer Stephen Sik-Sang Yau, American computer scientist David Yau Yau, South Sudanese government administrator and former insurrectionist leader
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