Nobiliary Particles Used By German Nobility
Most, but not all, surnames of the German nobility were preceded by or contained the preposition von (meaning "of") or zu (meaning "to", sometimes "at") as nobiliary particle. The two were often combined into von und zu (meaning "of and to/at"). In general, the "von" form indicates the place the family originated, while the "zu" form indicates that the family remains in possession of the estate from which the surname is drawn: Therefore von und zu indicates a family which is both named for and continues to own their original feudal holding or residence. Other forms also exist as combinations with the definitive article: e.g. "von der" or von dem → "vom" ("of the"), zu der → "zur" or zu dem → "zum" ("of the", "in the", "at the").
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Famous quotes containing the words particles, german and/or nobility:
“In another’s sentences the thought, though it may be immortal, is as it were embalmed, and does not strike you, but here it is so freshly living, even the body of it not having passed through the ordeal of death, that it stirs in the very extremities, and the smallest particles and pronouns are all alive with it. It is not simply dictionary it, yours or mine, but IT.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“I have known a German Prince with more titles than subjects, and a Spanish nobleman with more names than shirts.”
—Oliver Goldsmith (1728–1774)
“These hands do lack nobility that they strike
A meaner than myself.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)