Family name origins & meanings
- North German and Dutch : nickname for a dandy or an affluent person, from Middle Low German mouwe, Dutch mouw, ‘sleeve’, referring to a wide sleeve of expensive, ornamented fabric.
- Portuguese : nickname from mau ‘bad’, ‘evil’ (Latin malus).
- Breton : nickname or occupational name from mao ‘young boy’, ‘servant’.
- Chinese : variant of Mao.