A question about German names?

Question

When I read old German stories, I found many Germans have a "von" in their names. I wonder what this "von" means and why contemporary Germans don't have it in names.

Answer 1

In German last names, Von denotes nobility. (lord, earl...)
For instance, in the Sound of Music, the Von Trapp family were of noble descent.

However, it's NOT the same for Dutch, in which they use "Van"
Vanderkay, Vanseustran, or anything else that starts with "van" only starts with "van" because the Dutch thought it sounded nice.

Answer 2

Kyler Nicklaus Lukas Jessen Henry Emmet Tanner Bodie Kaspar Arlo Hugo Carsten Charles Stefan Emaline Carla Kristen Elsie Milla Gretchen Evalena Romy Brigit Analiese Katrina Giselle Isolde Saskia

Answer 3

von denotes nobility for example, Wolfgang von Muenschen. loosely translated to mean Wolfgang from Munich or the area of Munich. The Dutch use van and the English use of like Guy of Brisbane, the noble of Brisbane.

It is merely a nobility marker that helps denote the location of the family lineage and is no longer really used (with the exception of preexisting last names) because just about everyone has a seperate last name these days.

Answer 4

Originally it only meant that a person was from a certain location, but with the inroduction of surnames it became confined to nobility.
Especially in the West many nobles gave it up, some of them a hundred years after they lost their estates and privileges in the Napoleonic wars, and had to work for a living, but there are many families who are proud of their title and keep it still.

Answer 5

"of" or "from"... Gunther Von Den Berg for example in Gunther from the berg (mountain)

Answer 6

"son of", or "out of", or more shortly, "of"