Brandenberg History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEtymology of BrandenbergWhat does the name Brandenberg mean? The name Brandenberg comes from Prussia, a historic region that originally encompassed the coastal lands of the southeast Baltic, but over time expanded to include much of Poland and the majority of Germany. In pre-medieval times, these Prussians used only one name, but later they were forced by a growing population to adopt hereditary surnames so that they would remain distinct from the many others with the same first name. Local names were often chosen. They originally indicated land ownership, and frequently carried the prefix von, meaning "of" or "from", which is often taken as an indication of aristocratic lineage. Brandenberg was a name for some one lived in Brandenburg-Prussia, which is essentially the birthplace of modern Germany. By the 19th century, Brandenburg-Prussia had incorporated East Prussia, West Prussia and many other German territories. Moreover, in the late 19th century, it led the German states in the unification of Germany. Early Origins of the Brandenberg familyThe surname Brandenberg was first found in Prussia, where this family name became noted for its many branches within the region. Early History of the Brandenberg familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brandenberg research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1689, 1713 and 1794 are included under the topic Early Brandenberg History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Brandenberg Spelling VariationsMany cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Brandenberg include Brandenburg, Brandenberg, Brandenburge, Brandenberge, Branddenburg, Branddenberg, Brandenberger and many more. Early Notables of the Brandenberg familyMore information is included under the topic Early Brandenberg Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The state of Prussia was a great influence on the shape of modern Germany. After the Second World War, Prussia's land was divided among the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany and the state was abolished. Some Prussians remained in those countries after the war, while many others migrated to North America in search of a new start. Philadelphia was their primary point of entry to the United States, after which many of them moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. A large number of Prussians also migrated to Ontario and the prairie provinces as United Empire Loyalists. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Brandenbergs to arrive in North America, and among them were: Brandenberg Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
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