Von in German Names: A Guide to Understanding German Nobility

Are you curious about the "von" in German names? It's not just a fancy prefix; it's a historical marker of nobility. Throughout German history, the "von" signified membership in a specific family lineage and often indicated land ownership. Understanding the "von" in a German name allows you to delve into the fascinating history of German aristocracy and the unique traditions that shaped these families. Let's explore the origins and meaning of "von" and discover the fascinating stories behind names that bear this noble distinction.
1. **von Achenbach:** From the place name Achenbach, meaning "stream of the achen" (type of fish).
2. **von Alvensleben:** From the place name Alvensleben, meaning "meadow near the river Elbe".
3. **von Arnim:** From the place name Arnim, meaning "home of the eagle".
4. **von Asch:** From the place name Asch, meaning "ash tree".
5. **von Auersperg:** From the place name Auersperg, meaning "spear hill".
6. **von Baeyer:** From the place name Baeyer, meaning "bay".
7. **von Beust:** From the place name Beust, meaning "bush".
8. **von Bismarck:** From the place name Bismarck, meaning "bishop's farm".
9. **von Bodman:** From the place name Bodman, meaning "bottom land".
10. **von Bohlen und Halbach:** A compound name, with "Bohlen" meaning "planks" and "Halbach" meaning "half stream".
11. **von Borcke:** From the place name Borcke, meaning "fortress".
12. **von Braun:** From the place name Braun, meaning "brown".
13. **von Breitenbuch:** From the place name Breitenbuch, meaning "wide book".
14. **von Bülow:** From the place name Bülow, meaning "hill near the stream".
15. **von Canstein:** From the place name Canstein, meaning "stone quarry".
16. **von Carlowitz:** From the place name Carlowitz, meaning "settlement of Karl".
17. **von Clausewitz:** From the place name Clausewitz, meaning "clover meadow".
18. **von der Goltz:** From the place name Goltz, meaning "gold".
19. **von der Heydt:** From the place name Heydt, meaning "heath".
20. **von der Leyen:** From the place name Leyen, meaning "lay".
21. **von Dohnanyi:** From the place name Dohnanyi, meaning "valley of the Dohn".
22. **von Einem:** From the place name Einem, meaning "one".
23. **von Eicken:** From the place name Eicken, meaning "oak tree".
24. **von Erlach:** From the place name Erlach, meaning "alder tree".
25. **von Essen:** From the place name Essen, meaning "ash".
26. **von Falckenstein:** From the place name Falckenstein, meaning "falcon stone".
27. **von Fersen:** From the place name Fersen, meaning "heel".
28. **von Finck:** From the place name Finck, meaning "finch".
29. **von Freyberg:** From the place name Freyberg, meaning "free mountain".
30. **von Fritsch:** From the place name Fritsch, meaning "peace".
31. **von Gienanth:** From the place name Gienanth, meaning "giant's valley".
32. **von Gleichen:** From the place name Gleichen, meaning "smooth".
33. **von Goertz:** From the place name Goertz, meaning "court".
34. **von Görtz:** From the place name Görtz, meaning "court".
35. **von Hagen:** From the place name Hagen, meaning "enclosure".
36. **von Hammerstein:** From the place name Hammerstein, meaning "hammer stone".
37. **von Hansemann:** From the place name Hansemann, meaning "Hanseatic man".
38. **von Hardenberg:** From the place name Hardenberg, meaning "hard mountain".
39. **von Haugwitz:** From the place name Haugwitz, meaning "forest clearing".
40. **von Hindenburg:** From the place name Hindenburg, meaning "hind's mountain".
41. **von Hohenlohe:** From the place name Hohenlohe, meaning "high meadow".
42. **von Humboldt:** From the place name Humboldt, meaning "humble mountain".
43. **von Ingelheim:** From the place name Ingelheim, meaning "Ingel's home".
44. **von Ketteler:** From the place name Ketteler, meaning "kettle maker".
45. **von Kluck:** From the place name Kluck, meaning "sound of a rooster".
46. **von Knigge:** From the place name Knigge, meaning "knight".
47. **von Koerber:** From the place name Koerber, meaning "basket maker".
48. **von Kolb:** From the place name Kolb, meaning "coal".
49. **von Kries:** From the place name Kries, meaning "circle".
50. **von Künersdorf:** From the place name Künersdorf, meaning "village of the Küner".
51. **von Lützow:** From the place name Lützow, meaning "meadow of the Lutz".
52. **von Maltzan:** From the place name Maltzan, meaning "meal mill".
53. **von Manteuffel:** From the place name Manteuffel, meaning "cloak".
54. **von Marwitz:** From the place name Marwitz, meaning "border".
55. **von Moltke:** From the place name Moltke, meaning "molten".
56. **von Münchhausen:** From the place name Münchhausen, meaning "monk's house".
57. **von Nassau:** From the place name Nassau, meaning "near the Nass".
58. **von Negelein:** From the place name Negelein, meaning "new nail".
59. **von Nostitz:** From the place name Nostitz, meaning "settlement of the Nostitz".
60. **von Oertzen:** From the place name Oertzen, meaning "place".
61. **von Oppenheim:** From the place name Oppenheim, meaning "open meadow".
62. **von Papen:** From the place name Papen, meaning "pope".
63. **von Pückler:** From the place name Pückler, meaning "picker".
64. **von Quast:** From the place name Quast, meaning "cluster".
65. **von Richthofen:** From the place name Richthofen, meaning "rich mountain".
66. **von Rittberg:** From the place name Rittberg, meaning "riding mountain".
67. **von Rochow:** From the place name Rochow, meaning "settlement near the rook".
68. **von Rohr:** From the place name Rohr, meaning "reed".
69. **von Rotenhan:** From the place name Rotenhan, meaning "red mountain".
70. **von Saldern:** From the place name Saldern, meaning "place near the salt".
71. **von Schleinitz:** From the place name Schleinitz, meaning "valley of the Schleinitz".
72. **von Schlieffen:** From the place name Schlieffen, meaning "narrow place".
73. **von Schmettow:** From the place name Schmettow, meaning "place of the Schmettow".
74. **von Schönburg:** From the place name Schönburg, meaning "beautiful castle".
75. **von Schorlemer:** From the place name Schorlemer, meaning "settlement of the Schorlemer".
76. **von Schrader:** From the place name Schrader, meaning "shaper".
77. **von Schweinitz:** From the place name Schweinitz, meaning "pig meadow".
78. **von Seeckt:** From the place name Seeckt, meaning "lake".
79. **von Siebold:** From the place name Siebold, meaning "victory".
80. **von Stauffenberg:** From the place name Stauffenberg, meaning "mountain of the Stauff".
81. **von Stein:** From the place name Stein, meaning "stone".
82. **von Sternberg:** From the place name Sternberg, meaning "star mountain".
83. **von Stoch:** From the place name Stoch, meaning "stick".
84. **von Strachwitz:** From the place name Strachwitz, meaning "straight forest".
85. **von Stülpnagel:** From the place name Stülpnagel, meaning "nail mountain".
86. **von Sydow:** From the place name Sydow, meaning "south meadow".
87. **von Thiele:** From the place name Thiele, meaning "animal".
88. **von Trotha:** From the place name Trotha, meaning "place of the Troth".
89. **von Uexküll:** From the place name Uexküll, meaning "old mill".
90. **von Ungern-Sternberg:** A compound name, with "Ungern" meaning "foreign" and "Sternberg" meaning "star mountain".
91. **von Waldersee:** From the place name Waldersee, meaning "forest lake".
92. **von Wallmoden:** From the place name Wallmoden, meaning "wall meadow".
93. **von Wartensleben:** From the place name Wartensleben, meaning "waiting life".
94. **von Wedel:** From the place name Wedel, meaning "meadow".
95. **von Wehren:** From the place name Wehren, meaning "defense".
96. **von Weitershausen:** From the place name Weitershausen, meaning "further house".
97. **von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff:** A compound name, with "Wilamowitz" meaning "settlement of Wilhelm" and "Moellendorff" meaning "mill valley".
98. **von Winterfeldt:** From the place name Winterfeldt, meaning "winter field".
99. **von Wittgenstein:** From the place name Wittgenstein, meaning "witness mountain".
100. **von Zedlitz:** From the place name Zedlitz, meaning "tree stump".