Talk:Wendelin von Benno Baumeister/@comment-44964695-20200522210646/@comment-108.28.174.188-20200522221019

'Von' is a classic German signifier of nobility, which is where the story is drawing much of its inspirtion in that regard. Traditionally, any person born as a direct descendant of current nobility can use that monniker. So, if my grandfather was nobility when I was born, I could use it. But if the same grandfather passed away by the time my younger brother was born AND the new holder of the noble title was my uncle instead of my father, that brother couldn't use it.

In general, many anime have stretched things a bit far with regard to historic name lineage. Traditionally, the wife would take the husband's name, no matter what. Instead, for distinguished names, anime often allow the women to retain the link to that name. While admirable by todays standards (where maany women don't change their names at all in marriage), it is somewhat ahistorical.