Pauw

Pauw is a Dutch word meaning peacock, referring to the peafowl, the bird known for its ornate tail. In Dutch usage, pauw denotes the species commonly called the peacock in English, and the term appears in everyday language, literature, and cultural references. It is etymologically related to other Germanic terms for the bird, such as German Pfau.

As a surname, Pauw is of Dutch origin and is found among people in the Netherlands and Dutch-speaking communities. Notable individuals with the surname include Jeroen Pauw (born 1960), a Dutch television presenter and journalist known for his work in public broadcasting.

In contemporary contexts, the name Pauw often appears in media and public life in the Netherlands due to figures who bear it, contributing to its recognition beyond its linguistic meaning. The surname is one of several Dutch surnames derived from animal names and nicknames that became family identifiers over time.

Overall, Pauw functions both as a common noun in Dutch for the peafowl and as a family name with cultural presence in the Dutch-speaking world. Related surnames and given-name variants in other languages reflect similar roots connected to the bird, including Pfau in German and Pawel or Paweł in Polish contexts.