A 74-year-old Tyrolean woman wanted to assume the noble predicate “von” that her German husband has to his name. When the application fell through, she even complained to the responsible district authority. In vain, as the associated state law has been in effect for over 100 years.
The heyday of the European aristocracy is over, but the noble “von” as an integral part of the name has never been dropped, at least not in Germany. A Tyrolean (74) apparently attached importance to the appearance of higher descent. And so she asked a district authority for permission to use her husband’s name “von XX” in her new passport. After all, the Austrian consulate general had confirmed the name change, the woman argued.
The local BH rejected the “van” after the passport application, referring to the Austrian law on the abolition of nobility. Specifically, in a democratic society, no part of the name should indicate “a privilege of birth or status.”
Objection when the bra rejected the request
The pensioner’s disappointment was apparently so great that the Tyrolean turned to the state administrative court. She also believed she was right because her husband’s “von” was a regular part of the name and not an aristocratic designation at all.
But the judge stated unequivocally: “The decisive factor is whether the suffix from the outside could be a title of nobility.” It is enough that the name element or suffix can give the impression that there is a privilege of birth or status. “All in all, the complaint would be dismissed as unfounded,” the verdict reads.
A last resort for the Tyrolean can only be a complaint to the Constitutional Court or an appeal to the Administrative Court (each for a fee of 240 euros). However, the hope is very manageable.
In April 1919, many forms of address were abolished
In the Republic of German-Austria, titles of nobility were basically abolished after the First World War was lost. Predicates such as “His Highness” or “Excellence” were also banned. The same goes for status indications such as “knight”, “baron”, “count” or “prince”. Even the right to bear a family coat of arms has officially ceased to exist since the Act of April 3, 1919.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
