We will have a new ‘in-law’ soon. His family originate from old Schleswg-Holstein, his surname is a ‘von’ …
name. The name on [name_m]Per[/name_m] seems just so easy, but his soon to be wife (Australian) who wants to change her surname, is wondering about the significance of the precursor ‘von.’ I have found only online research saying ‘von’ was an indicator of nobility - Centuries Ago. [name_m]Per[/name_m] says most of his family, now spread over Europe have retained the ‘von’- a few branches have in dropped it. For the families who have migrated to other parts of the Globe, he unfortunately has no knowledge. I am about to try other avenues for information but hoped that there are Berries more ‘au fait’ on the surname than my limited nomenclature,
Sincerely hoping to learn more.[name_f]TIA[/name_f] .
I am not [name_m]German[/name_m] and we have [name_m]German[/name_m] members here who probably know more about it, I’m from the neighboring country where the similar ‘van’ is all the rage xD During my [name_m]Law[/name_m] studies last year I had to read a judgment which was actually about the role of ‘von’ as a ‘nobiliary particle’ and how in [name_f]Austria[/name_f] this is not in line with the Constitution while in Germany they don’t mind. I believe ‘von’ isn’t forbidden in [name_f]Austria[/name_f], it’s just the true noble titles that are. I looked it up on [name_m]German[/name_m] wikipedia and my [name_m]German[/name_m] is a little bit rusty but I believe the general message is that it could indicate nobility, it might not and then especially in Northern Germany (hey Schleswig-Holstein) this is the case, where often it just means where your family originally came from without meaning you ruled the place. Which is not weird since it basically just means of/from, which sounds fairly neutral.
@honnepon, thank you again. You are so helpful. Once [name_f]Kira[/name_f] spends more time in Europe she will garner the feel for this but [name_m]Per[/name_m], her fiance, seems gloriously unaware. Half, the attraction -so laid back…
Your comment re the ‘van’ was a good indicator re what [name_f]Kira[/name_f] is thinking of in terms of pretentiousness.
von-is not seen in Australia as far as I know, some von Trapp association, on the other hand, many van names are ‘old Australian names’ now and also come with South African immigrants. Either seen as vander…1 word. or van der Westhuizen!!!
So glad to have your Germanic knowledge.