auen

Auen is a geographic name used in several German-speaking regions and, less commonly, as a surname. The term derives from Aue or Au, medieval and modern German words describing a river meadow or floodplain, and the form Auen is the plural. As a place name, it typically signals proximity to a river valley or wetland and reflects land-use or landscape features of the area.

In administrative geography, Auen appears as the name of villages, localities, or former municipalities. In many cases, such places are small communities that may have been incorporated into larger towns or districts. The distribution of Auen as a toponym is particularly common in Germany, with similar usages found in Austria and Switzerland.

Geographically, sites named Auen are usually situated on or near floodplains, riverbanks, or wet meadows. The landscape character often informs local history, agriculture, and settlement patterns, including drainage, flood management, and pastures.

Given the broad use of the name, any specific Auen should be identified by its district or state for precise information. See also Aue and Au, related place-name forms.