![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) heil_hans |
| 2008-08-04 23:36 |
| German Surnames |
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 contemplative |
| info |
German surnames from Müller to Keller
The list that follows ranks the 50 most common family names in Germany. It was produced by surveying names found in German telephone books. Attached is the English meaning for each name. The most common German surname is Müller, which means "miller" - it points to their actual occupation. Keller on the other hand belongs to a class of names derived from WHERE someone worked, in this case, possibly a Ratskeller (cellar pub/restaurant) or Weinkeller (wine cellar). Names and their sources can be a tricky thing as they go so far back in Europe. On this list you find likely meanings/orgins of the most common ones.
Generally speaking, most names were based on
- occupations/social status
- location
- a person's physical characteristics
NOTE: German names that include "von" may indicate a member of (former) nobility, like the French "de" or the Dutch "van". At certain times and places, it was illegal for anyone who was not a member of aristocracy to use "von" before their family name. Therefore: Chances are that the person who has it in their name now was somehow related to this social class. (In the Middle Ages the "von" particle was still a common part of names and was widely used also by commoners, e.g. "Hans von Duisburg" meant Hans from [the city of] Duisburg.)
The 50 Most-Common German Last Names
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The great majority of this game takes place in the city of Paris, France. These are some locations around the city that may come in to play. Feel free to make up locations as you need them, and we will add them into the list of places. If your character owns a business, please do a little writeup on said business and we will add it to the list.
( Locations )
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| heil_hans |
| 2008-01-16 16:27 |
| Dealing With Germans |
| Public |
 amused |
| info |
Found this online - they're not all necessarily true for every German, but I did bold the ones that seem to apply to Hans.
Rules for Dealing with Germans
1. Remember that Germans really hate rule breakers!
2. Germans and Americans do not think and act alike in social and business situations - especially first encounters. Get over the myth that "we're all basically alike." It sounds good, but this mind-set is counterproductive.
3. Germans tend to be blunt, frank, and - to Anglo-American eyes - tactless in certain situations. They tend to correct you when you don't want to be corrected. That's because they are primarily concerned with exchanging facts and information, not "warm fuzziness." Since they also do this with other Germans, try to understand that you have not been singled out for special treatment.
4. Germans aren't into "idle chatter." They don't really care if you "have a nice day" (an expression they view as a symbol of American "superficiality"), and they don't want to talk about (a) their jobs, (b) their kids or family with a stranger . Such conversation is reserved for close friends.
5. Both the German language and the Germans draw a clear line between Freunde (du/ihr) and Bekannte (Sie), between private (home) and public (work). You are a Bekannte(r) ("acquaintance") and on Sie terms until your German counterpart says otherwise. This is one of the most difficult rules for easygoing, just-call-me-Bob Americans to truly grasp and internalize.
6. Germans have been known to smile, but unnecessary smiling is frowned on. A German needs a good reason to smile. In fact, excessive smiling for most Germans is an indication of weak-mindedness. Don't overdo smiling around Germans. At heart, Germans are pessimists, and they enjoy their pessimism. Don't deprive them of that pleasure. Corollary to Rule 6: Never try to tell a joke in German. Leave this to professionals like Harald Schmidt (a well-known German night-show host) or Germans who have had too much to drink. Germans have a sense of humor, but is has no resemblance to either the American or British variety. It takes many years to delve into the German sense of humor.
7. Learn and accept Rules 1 through 6. Don't think you can (or should) change people. Learn to adjust to them rather than expecting them to adjust to you. If you react with indignation or anger, even privately, then you are displaying a profound lack of understanding of the culture in which you're trying to function.
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| heil_hans |
| 2008-01-12 21:31 |
| Pictures of Paris 1940 and assorted other things |
| Public |
| contemplative |
| info |
( Photos... )
( Assorted other things )
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working