Nobiliary particle

A nobiliary particle is used in a family name or surname in many Western cultures to signal the nobility of a family. The particle used varies depending on the country, language and period of time. However, in some languages the nobiliary particle is the same as a regular prepositional particle that was used in the creation of many surnames. In some countries it became customary to distinguish the nobiliary particle from the regular one by different spelling, although in other countries these conventions did not arise, occasionally resulting in ambiguity.

Denmark and Norway

In Denmark and Norway one distinguishes between (1) nobiliary particles and (2) a preposition denoting a place of residence.

Nobiliary particles like af, von, and de (English: of) are an integrated part of family names. The use of predicates was no particular privilege for the nobility, but on the other hand almost exclusively used by and associated with them. Especially in the late 17th century and the 18th century one would often receive a predicate together with one’s old or new name when ennobled. Examples are families like de Gyldenpalm (lit. ‘of Goldenpalm’) and, with two predicates, von Munthe af Morgenstierne (lit. ‘of Munthe of Morningstar’). Prominent non-noble families having used predicates are von Cappelen, von der Lippe, and de Créqui dit la Roche.