Yau (surname)

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 ^[1] culture, the name "Yau" or its variant forms "Ya'u" and Arma Ya'u is a common male name and surname ^{[2] [3] [4]} and it is a derivative of the Arabic name Zakariya the father of John the Baptist (Yahya), often used as a shortened form. ^[5] 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). ^[6]

Cantonese romanisation of 丘

For people with the same Chinese surname but romanised differently, see Qiū (surname) § 丘.

• Shing-Tung Yau (丘成桐; born 1949), Chinese-born American mathematician
• Stephen Shing-Toung Yau (丘成栋; born 1952), Hong Kong-born American mathematician, brother of Shing-Tung Yau
• Algernon Yau (丘應樺; born 1959), Hong Kong businessperson and politician
• Alan Yau (丘德威; born 1962), Hong Kong-born British restaurateur
• Yau Kin Wai (丘健威; born 1973), Hong Kong football defender

Cantonese romanisation of 邱

For people with the same Chinese surname but romanised differently, see Qiū (surname) § 邱.

• Yau Leung (邱良; 1941–1997), Hong Kong street photographer
• Yau Lop Poon (邱立本; born 1950), Hong Kong journalist
• Edward Yau (邱騰華; born 1960), Hong Kong government official
• Herman Yau (邱禮濤; born 1961), Hong Kong film director
• Chingmy Yau (邱淑貞; born 1968), Hong Kong actress
• Benny Yau (邱穟恆; born 1980), Hong Kong-born Canadian television presenter
• Yung Yau (邱勇), Hong Kong housing studies professor
• Stanley Yau (邱士縉), member of Hong Kong boy band Mirror
• Tiger Yau (邱傲然), member of Hong Kong boy band Mirror

Cantonese romanisation of 尤

For people with the same Chinese surname but romanised differently, see You (surname) § Yóu 尤.

• Yau Lit (尢列; 1864–1936), Chinese revolutionary
• Carrie Yau (尤曾家麗; born 1955), Hong Kong government official

Cantonese romanisation of 游

For people with the same Chinese surname but romanised differently, see You (surname) § Yóu 游.

• King-Wai Yau (游景威; born 1948), Chinese-born American neuroscientist
• Patrick Yau (游達志; born 1964), Hong Kong film director
• Yau Nai-hoi (游乃海; born 1968), Hong Kong screenwriter
• Yau Kam Leung (游錦良; born 1985), Hong Kong football defender
• Neo Yau (游學修; born 1990), Hong Kong actor
• Yau Wai-ching (游蕙禎; born 1991), Hong Kong politician

Mandarin romanisation of 姚

For people with the same Chinese surname but romanised differently, see Yao (surname).

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 (姚鴻澤; 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. ^[7] , Nigerian Nuclear Scientist
• Ya'u Umar GwajoGwajo, ^[8] Nigerian politician
• Hon. Justice Ya'u Ibrahim Dakwang, ^[9] Nigerian politician
• Arma Ya’u Hamisu Bichi, ^[10] Nigerian academician and scientist
• Abdulsalam Ya'u Gitai, ^[11] Nigerian academician and scientist
• Yau Usman Dachia, ^[12] Nigerian politician
• Zakari Ya’u Galadima Zakariyau Galadima, ^[13] Nigerian politician
• Garba Ya’u, ^[14] Nigerian politician
• Justice Aisha Ya’u, ^[15] Public servant and lawyer
• Sule Ya’u, ^[16] Nigerian academician and scientist
• Ya'u Shu'aibu Haruna, ^[17] 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

References

1. "The Meaning of the Name "Yao", and What Numerologists Say About It". Ifate . Retrieved 15 March 2025.
2. "FORBES Search Names & Genealogy". FOREBEARERS . Retrieved 15 March 2025.
3. "Arma Ya U Meaning & Pronunciation". Names Look . Retrieved 15 March 2025.
4. "Ya-U Surname" . Retrieved 2025-03-15.
5. "An African Reflects on Biblical Names". JUST GENESIS. 2 March 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
6. "Most common last names for Asians and Pacific Islanders in the U.S." Mongabay . Retrieved 8 January 2018.
7. "Buhari appoints Idris as NNRA DG". The Sun Nigeria. 2020-05-28. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
8. "File:Ya'u Umar GwajoGwajo.jpg". WIKIMEDIA COMMONS . Retrieved 2020-08-16.
9. "File:Hon. Justice Ya'u Ibrahim Dakwang Vs National Judicial Council and others". [e-mail]. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
10. "Prof. Armaya'u Hamisu Bichi: Vice Chancellor who converted his official residence to Female Hostel". Media Trust . Retrieved 2025-03-15.
11. "Prof. Abdulsalam Gitai - Director, Innovation and Research". Practical Artificial Intelligence Development Foundation (PAIDeF) . Retrieved 2025-03-15.
12. "Yobe APC chieftains preach unity, discipline ahead 2027 elections". The Punch . Retrieved 2025-03-15.
13. "Nigeria to host 51st CPA conference – Hon Galadima". Zakariyau Galadima. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
14. "Kano State Assembly". Kano State House of Assembly. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
15. "Tag: Justice Aisha Ya'u". Premium Times . Retrieved 2025-03-15.
16. "IMPR Board Chairman, Dr. Sule Ya'u, Becomes Professor at BUK". Spokesperson's digest. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
17. "Ya'U Haruna Shu'Aibu Y. S. Haruna, Haruna Y. S.Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University - Bauchi / Nigeria". Index. Retrieved 2025-03-15.