Grabau is a surname that has a unique spelling. The word is pronounced as /ˈɡræbaʊ/ in IPA phonetic transcription, with the stress on the first syllable. The spelling of this word indicates that it is German in origin as it follows the German orthography, which often uses the letter "au" to indicate the sound of the letter "ow." The word "Grabau" may have a variety of meanings in the German language, such as denoting a location or a type of tree.