Germany Nobility FamilySearch Last Names 6. [1] The nobility flourished during the dramatic industrialization and urbanization of Germany after 1850. The system of nobility in the former German Empire was similar to the nobility of Austria, as both territories long belonged to the Holy Roman Empire, although the Austrian Republic, unlike Germany's, legally abolished its nobility and banned use of hereditary titles in any form. 12.Godfrey (German Origin) among the noble surnames beginning with G which means 'God's peace'. 1. The nobility is a class of people who had special political and social status. Means "sword" or "fiery." In medieval times the borders of the Holy Roman Empire were especially vulnerable to foreign attack, so the hereditary count of these "marches" of the realm was sometimes granted greater authority than other vassals to ensure security. Members of the noble class seldom left their country or disowned their children. Regensburg, Germany: Georg Joseph Mainz, 1860-1866. Nobility of Germany | Familypedia | Fandom All legal privileges of the nobility were officially abolished in 1919 by the Weimar Republic (1919-1933), and nobility is no longer conferred or recognised by the German Republic, former hereditary titles being allowed only as part of the surname. For additional resources, do a Place Search for Germany and view the selections under Germany - Nobility, as well as Germany - Genealogy, Germany - Biography, and Germany - Heraldry. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_nobility&oldid=1150142778, Articles with German-language sources (de), Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2021, Articles needing additional references from January 2021, All articles needing additional references, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from November 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Young Lord (grouped with untitled nobles), Danger of extinction of the relevant noble family, Transfer or inheritance of estates to the recipient of the name, for example to the son of the daughter, Biological relation with the family giving the name, Noble ancestors (for example mother or grandmother), Virtuous personality and sufficient social standing. Noble German Surnames & What They Mean - Nobility Titles With a meaning of "forest," this name typically applied to lumbermen. ). In a similar way, the prefix Zu in a German surname can also be an indication of nobility. My grandfather Page-11209 was illegitimate(?) In 1919, nobiliary particles and titles became part of the surname. [1] Other explanations have been put forward, however; Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, while still noting the potential of a Greek derivation, suggested a connection to Gothic: gagrfts, meaning 'decision, decree'. Since the feudal era, any count whose territory lay within the Empire and was under the immediate jurisdiction of the Emperor with a shared vote in the Reichstag came to be considered a member of the "upper nobility" (Hochadel) in Germany, along with princes (Frsten), dukes (Herzge), electors, and the emperor himself. The nobility is divided into two sections: Hochadel and Niederadel (high and low nobility). Switzerland The high nobility included those counts who ruled immediate imperial territories of "princely size and importance" for which they had a seat and vote in the Imperial Diet. Four Volumes in Two. However, they are binding for all German nobility associations recognized by CILANE. If your ancestor was of the noble class, the following books may help you in your research: Hefner, Otto Titian von. While the von Braun name and noble connection was inherited from his fathers side of the family, Wernher von Brauns mother had an equally impressive lineage, reportedly dating back to medieval European royalty, including kings of France, Denmark, Scotland and England. This page was last edited on 5 April 2022, at 14:10. In August 1919, at the beginning of the Weimar Republic (19191933), Germany's new constitution officially abolished royalty and nobility, and the respective legal privileges and immunities appertaining to an individual, a family or any heirs. However, in Polish, a wealthy or prominent female relative often passed down her name. Most Common Surnames In Germany : #. Surname. 1. Mller. 2. Schmidt. 3. Schneider. Noblewomen who marry commoners lose their nobility and become commoners themselves, and nobility is only recovered if they remarry a nobleman. Most were untitled, only making use of the particle von in their surnames. Therefore, they can be transmitted according to civil law, for example from wife to husband, to illegitimate children and by way of adoption. WebGerman (also Nbel): in some cases a habitational name from a place so named (Polish Niegowo) near Gdask in Pomeranian Voivodeship Poland. It may note early bearers of the coat-of-arms and sometimes notes their relationships, birth dates, and other genealogical information. Visage. as an arbitrary distinction invented by the Kingdom of Prussia. Most family traditions about a noble ancestor prove to be untrue. Since the abolition of the German Empire at the end of World War I, the heirs of some of its former monarchies have resumed use of margrave as a title of pretence, e.g. A Burggraf, or Burgrave, was a 12th- and 13th-century military and civil judicial governor of a castle (compare castellan, custos, keeper) of the town it dominated and of its immediate surrounding countryside. Last Names Violating these laws could result in temporary or permanent Adelsverlust ("loss of the status of nobility"). The first known such document is from September 30, 1360, for Wyker Frosch in Mainz. Hoffmann. Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Nobility that held legal privileges until 1918 greater than those enjoyed by commoners, but less than those enjoyed by the Hochadel, were considered part of the lower nobility or Niederer Adel. 1 - BSB Cgm 1508, S.l. German nobility - Wikipedia . Governments which recognised or conferred nobility were the Holy Roman Empire (962-1806), the German Confederation (1814-1866) and the German Empire (1871-1918). German Family Names Neues allgemeines Deutsches Adels-Lexicon or New General German Aristocracy Lexicon is the title of a series of historical reference books written by Professor Dr. Ernst Heinrich Kneschke about the German aristocracy, including royalty and nobility. 49. [9] In general, the von form indicates the family's place of origin, while the zu form indicates the family's continued possession of the estate from which the surname is drawn. "von der" or von dem "vom" ("of the"), zu der "zur" or zu dem "zum" ("of the", "in the", "at the"). German (Nbel): in some Heraldry is the design, use, regulation, and recording of coats-of-arms. A list of German origin and Americanised family names. When a person is granted a dispensation by the Adelsrechtsausschuss, he becomes the progenitor of a new noble family, which consists of all of his legitimate male-line descendants in accordance with nobiliary law. Limit 20 per day. As you might expect from the Von in his surname, Wernher von Braun has aristocratic roots a fact that is compounded by the term Freiherr in his full name, (Freiherr is the German word for Baron, or literally Free Lord). The shortened form of the Italian name Lorenzo, this spunky and cute moniker means home ruler.. Allen Allen is a boy name having Gaelic origins. The noble class formed only a small percentage of Germany's population, and Germany limited the growth of the noble class. Therefore, von und zu indicates a family which is both named for and continues to own their original feudal holding or residence. May 5, 2022 | Aristocracy, Germany, Noble Titles, Royal Titles. Jewish surname Subject class number 943 D65da. (FS Library book 943D22h; film 491,136 online. The nobility system of the German Empire was similar to nobility in the Austrian Empire; both developed during the Holy Roman Empire and both ended in 1919 when they were abolished, and legal status and privileges were revoked. If youre looking for inspiration, studies have revealed that people with German surnames that suggest royal or noble rank, such as Kaiser (emperor), Frst WebSurnames beginning with A. A-01 Aaker to Alley. This excluded marriages with women of the lower social classes, but did not mean a woman had to come from nobility herself. Derived from Germanic Adal (noble) and Behrt (bright or famous), this surname means illustrious. Germanys Albrecht is heir to the most profitable retail chains across the world. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. Those who had been quasi-sovereign until German mediatisation retained, until 1918, status and privileges pertaining to members of reigning dynasties. In the Holy Roman Empire, many Imperial counts (Reichsgrafen) retained near-sovereign authority in their lands until the Congress of Vienna subordinated them to larger, neighboring monarchs through the German mediatisation process of 1815, preserving their precedence, allocating familial representation in local legislatures, some jurisdictional immunities and the prestigious privilege of Ebenbrtigkeit. In Germany mainly the noble class, gentry, and some burghers (city residents with citizenship rights) were entitled to bear coats-of-arms. Patronymic surnames are names that are passed down from father to child. A family whose nobility dates back to at least the 14th century may be called Uradel, or Alter Adel ("ancient nobility",[15] or "old nobility"). Rue du March 7 [9] As dependent parts of the surnames (nichtselbstndige Namensbestandteile), they are ignored in alphabetical sorting of names, as is any nobiliary particle, such as von or zu,[10] and might or might not be used by those bearing them. 41. Members of this class had titles such as Baron [Freiherr], Duke [Herzog], Count [Graf], Landgraf occasionally continued in use as the subsidiary title of such minor royalty as the Elector of Hesse or the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar, who functioned as the Landgrave of Thuringia in the first decade of the 20th century. Leave a message for others who see this profile. The more that join the easier it will be to discover patterns. Untamed and wild is the meaning of this hip name, which has German roots and a long history as a surname that dates back to the 10th century. So, in terms of German surnames, the appearance of Von in a name can often indicate that the bearer is of noble origin. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Meibom cf.Heinrich Meibom, Marcus Meibom (danish composer), etc, Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Liste der hufigsten deutschen Familiennamen, http://www.saur.de/dbe/deutsch/page03.htm, https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Appendix:German_surnames&oldid=71753275, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Jeismann ( other variants - Jeijsman and Jeisman ) surname comes from Eisman/Eijsman = Eisenmann. The jurisdiction of a landgrave was a Landgrafschaft or landgraviate, and the wife of a landgrave was a Landgrfin or landgravine. The nobility is a class of people who had special political and social status. Otto Graf Lambsdorff). They were royalty; the heads of these families were entitled to be addressed by some form of "Majesty" or "Highness". Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Hochadel ("upper nobility", or "high nobility") were those noble houses which ruled sovereign states within the Holy Roman Empire and, later, in the German Confederation and the German Empire. WebThis page uses content from the English language Wikipedia.The original content was at Category:German_noble_families.The list of authors can be seen in the page history.As Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The laws and practices of heraldry have changed over the years. Upon promulgation of the Weimar Constitution on 11 August 1919, all Germans were declared equal before the law. German Surnames - Behind the Name The more important ones are treated in separate articles (follow the links); a few minor, rarer ones only in sections below. In April 1919, Austrian nobility was abolished under the First Austrian Republic (19191934) and, contrary to Germany, the subsequent use and legal recognition of hereditary titles and aristocratic particles and use as part of surnames was banned. These are available from specialist agencies around the world who have access to bona fide aristocratic titles such as Duke, Baron, Lord or even Prince, and while availability is increasingly scarce in modern times, there are usually titles from various countries, including Germany, as well as France, Spain, Italy and some lesser-known ancient kingdoms. This series is one of the most inclusive source of the German Aristocracy. The exiled heirs to Hanover and Nassau eventually regained sovereignty by being allowed to inherit, respectively, the crowns of Brunswick (1914) and Luxembourg (1890). [10] Particularly between the late 18th and early 20th century when an increasing number of unlanded commoners were ennobled, the "von" was typically simply put in front of a person's surname. Originated as a name for the steward of a large farm. Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen and Maximilian, Margrave of Baden. Especially towards the end of the 19th century and beyond, when a new upper class of wealthy common people had emerged following industrialization, marriages with commoners were becoming more widespread. Members of this class had titles such as Baron [Freiherr], Duke [Herzog], Count [Graf], Margrave [Markgraf], and Knight (Sir) [Ritter]. In a similar way, the prefix Zu in a German surname can also be an indication of nobility. In Germany, nobility and titles pertaining to it were recognised or bestowed upon individuals by emperors, kings and lesser ruling royalty, and were then inherited by the legitimate, male-line descendants of the ennobled person. [9] The two were occasionally combined into von und zu (meaning "of and at"). Whether Mitzi preferred to play down any noble lineage during the politically fractious period of the mid-20th century, or she simply adopted a more Americanised name to appease Hollywood filmmakers, she opted to be known by a name that didnt reflect or reveal the Von aspect of her surname. Like many of their European neighbours, the nobility of Germany adopted the custom of using the name of their estate or region as their surname or integrating it into their given family name. [11] Name elements which have developed from honorary functions, such as Schenk (short for Mundschenk, i.e., "cup-bearer"), are also overlooked. Jewish surnames are thought to be of comparatively recent origin; the first known Jewish family names date to the Middle Ages, in the 10th and 11th centuries CE. ): This page was last edited on 17 March 2023, at 08:07. In regions of Europe where nobles did not actually exercise Landeshoheit over the populace, the Graf long retained specific feudal privileges over the land and in the villages in his county, such as rights to peasant service, to periodic fees for use of common infrastructure such as timber, mills, wells and pastures. Brand 1 German, English Derived from the Old German given name Brando or its It also briefly describes the family's entitlement to that coat-of-arms. The word Graf derives from Middle High German: grave, which is usually derived from Latin: graphio. Last Name [3] In Austria, its use is banned by law, as with all hereditary titles and nobiliary particles. 48. If you dont find your German Family Name here we may have it but not have added it to this page yet. This was often done using a prefix in front of the surname, and in Germany, the way to denote this practice was the use of a Von or Zu prefix. The distinguishing main surname is the name following the Graf, or Grfin, and the nobiliary particle if any. Throughout the evolution of the European aristocracy in the Middle Ages, these prefixes have related to a land-holding or estate that belonged to a noble family, or a region that was inherent in a noble title. Private Messages: One example of this is Karl Theodor Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg, or to give him his full title Karl Theodor Maria Georg Achaz Eberhardt Josef Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg. Bakker947, Welcome to the List of German Nobility and Aristocracy Page, Last Grand Dukes, Dukes and Princes - 1918, French_Revolutionary_Wars_Timeline_-_1792, Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Grand Duke Friedrich August II of Oldenburg, Grand Duke Wilhelm Ernest of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Duke Charles Edward of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Prince Gnther Victor of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_German_monarchs_in_1918. WebTraditional German Wheat beer with notes of banana, clove, and spiciness from German Noble Hops. German Last Names Although as a title Graf ranked, officially, below those of Herzog (duke) and Frst (prince), the Holy Roman Emperor could and did recognise unique concessions of authority or rank to some of these nobles, raising them to the status of gefrsteter Graf or "princely count".