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in reply to a message by Autumn
Van and Von ("fon") are respectively the Dutch and German words for "of" or "from" the place or landholding whose name follows. The French and Spanish equivalents would be "De" or some variant.
Can't speak for the Dutch convention of this term, but Von in a German name usually denotes that the bearer or his ancestors were some degree of gentry or nobility, and had landholdings associated with their family. Historically a "von" German surname is found more in the north and east areas, such as Saxony and Prussia.
- Da.
Can't speak for the Dutch convention of this term, but Von in a German name usually denotes that the bearer or his ancestors were some degree of gentry or nobility, and had landholdings associated with their family. Historically a "von" German surname is found more in the north and east areas, such as Saxony and Prussia.
- Da.
1
Replies
Question...
Why is is that in some one like Van Gough's case. the Van is seperated from the Gough, and here in the states, it is more common to see the two together, as in VanDillon, or VanDoren? I know people with both of these last names.
Sarahjeanne
Why is is that in some one like Van Gough's case. the Van is seperated from the Gough, and here in the states, it is more common to see the two together, as in VanDillon, or VanDoren? I know people with both of these last names.
Sarahjeanne
1
SJ,
Probably no particular reason other than a two-word last name is cumbersome and/or too ethnic for some tastes. If you're Van Schmuck, is your last-name initial V or S? If it's VanSchmuck, it's obviously V.
It's also possible that the change goes back to the anti-German sentiment of the Big Wars (especially the First), when many German-Americans changed the spelling or structure of their last names to seem less Teutonic. Even the Royals in the UK (of German extraction) changed theirs from Battenberg to Mountbatten, and Saxe-Gotha-Coburg to Windsor...
Pick one of the above or none. Your guess is as good as mine.
- Da.
Probably no particular reason other than a two-word last name is cumbersome and/or too ethnic for some tastes. If you're Van Schmuck, is your last-name initial V or S? If it's VanSchmuck, it's obviously V.
It's also possible that the change goes back to the anti-German sentiment of the Big Wars (especially the First), when many German-Americans changed the spelling or structure of their last names to seem less Teutonic. Even the Royals in the UK (of German extraction) changed theirs from Battenberg to Mountbatten, and Saxe-Gotha-Coburg to Windsor...
Pick one of the above or none. Your guess is as good as mine.
- Da.
1