- Germany edition
- Change edition:
- France |
- Norway |
- Spain |
- Sweden |
- Switzerland
The longest last name in Germany? Ottovordemgentschenfelde
Published: 8 Nov 10 10:24 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20101108-31027.html
Filling out official paperwork is a “nightmare,” says Bernd Ottovordemgentschenfelde. According to a media report on Monday, the 45-year-old Rhineland resident has the longest last name in Germany.
- Cooler, wetter, unsettled week ahead (20 May 13)
- Bayern wins, Dortmund loses ahead of CL Final (19 May 13)
- Christian Democrats set up political donation ATM (17 May 13)
“At 24 letters without spaces and hyphens his is far ahead of others,” name expert from the University of Leipzig Judith Schwanke told the paper, confirming that he currently has the longest last name on record.
Meanwhile the floor tiler from the town of Leopoldshöhe says his name barely fits on the side of his company vehicle.
“My father wanted to give me a second first name,” he told the paper. “But my mother successfully stopped that!”
Ottovordemgentschenfelde must often shorten his name for things like credit cards, he said. The name is such a burden that his wife Sylvia, 45, and his daughter Nadine, 14, have shortened their last names to simply Gentschenfelde.
Name expert Schwanke said the lengthy surname likely stems from the foundation of a new family farmstead.
In this case the Otto family probably founded a new part of a farm vor dem Gentschenfeld, or “near the Gentschen field," she explained.
Though it may be unwieldy, Ottovordemgentschenfelde said he will never change his name.
“It’s actually neat, with it we’re absolutely original,” he said. “I’d never be called a Krause or a Müller.”
The Local/ka
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Cooler, wetter, unsettled week ahead
Rain in the west, sunshine in the east - Germany's weather showed a divided picture on Monday said German weather service DWD, with warnings of an unsettled week ahead. READ () »
20,000 Goths gather in Leipzig
More than 20,000 Goths from all over the world gathered in Leipzig in eastern Germany over Whitsun weekend to celebrate all things dark and Gothic. READ () »
Nuclear phase-out plan hits problems
Germany's energy transition project - in which nuclear power will be phased out and replaced with energy from renewable sources - is facing the challenges of cheap coal, unresolved energy storage and an out-of-date electricity grid. READ () »
Fans flock to London for all-German CL final
With two Bundesliga clubs in the Champions League final, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund supporters are rushing to London for this weekend's Wembley showdown. READ () »
Hungary's Orban: Merkel policy like Nazi invasion
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbàn deepened diplomatic tensions with Germany after comparing the policies of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to the Nazi military invasion of his country ordered by Adolf Hitler. READ () »
Pricey Reichstag visitor centre scrapped
Visitors to Berlin's iconic Reichstag parliament building will continue to face long queues before they can enter through a temporary container, after politicians scrapped plans for an expensive underground visitor centre. READ () »
Police warn against high-tech Islamist attacks
The Federal Criminal Police Office is warning of a new type of Islamist terrorist threat from the air that could attack both passenger and cargo planes as well as airport facilities, the Welt am Sonntag newspaper reported. READ () »
Some fear inflation if small euro coins cut
European Union proposals to eliminate one and two cent euro coins is annoying some Germans, including a few at the Bundesbank, while others think an EU idea to introduce one and two-euro notes is a good one. READ () »
- 20/05 20,000 Goths gather in Leipzig »
- 20/05 Pricey Reichstag visitor centre scrapped »
- 19/05 Did Merkel's politics hurt Germany at Eurovision? »
- 19/05 Wagner descendant slams composer »
- 18/05 Most Germans optimistic about the future »
- 18/05 Survey: Half of gays harassed in Germany »
- 17/05 No child support if dad is anonymous sperm donor »
- 16/05 Germany in for wet Whit weekend »
- 16/05 US denies Christian homeschoolers asylum »
- 16/05 Unhappy diners 'beat top Japanese chef to death' »
- 20/05 Unions threaten strike over English at unis »
- 20/05 Brit admits to slaying his children in France »
More news from France at thelocal.fr
More news from Norway at thelocal.no
- 20/05 Man gets payout for not shaking woman's hand »
- 20/05 'Husby is usually a very peaceful place' »
More news from Sweden at thelocal.se
- 20/05 Nadal crushes Federer to win seventh Rome title »
- 19/05 Swiss lose to Swedes in world ice hockey final »
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
See all ads | Join the Marketplace
-
British Corner Shop
British Corner Shop - The online supermarket for expats -
Weiss Institut
Free yourself from Smoking addictions, Sugar craving and Alcohol addictions -
Shiply Worldwide Ltd
Shiply the Online Transport Market Place -
PsyShrink Frankfurt
The Expat Psychologists in Munich, Frankfurt and worldwide -
PsyShrink Munich
The Expat Psychologists in Munich, Frankfurt and worldwide -
Chambervelt Rooselain & Cie Ltd.
Insurance and financial planning for English speakers in Germany
786 jobs available
594 new jobs this week
98 new jobs today
- Civil advisor (m/f) power-plant construction
- IT Systems Analyst (AO-86)
- European Recruitment Consultant (m/w)
- International Sales Manager / Turkey
- Translator - native English speaker with German as first foreign language
- Junior Quantitative Anaylst (Front Office/Commodity Trading)
- Environmental Health & Safety Coordinator (m/f)
- Manufacturing Engineer for Body Shop, Assembly & Logistics
- Chemical Plant Manager
- Customer Technical Service Representative
- Apr/09 Touring Tempelhof – Europe’s Largest Historical Monument
- Apr/09 Spring in Berlin 2013 – Where, What Why and When!
- Mar/12 Living Like a Local – Tell us what you think and win a weekend in Berlin!
- Feb/04 Escaping the City – Our Recommended Suburban Getaways
- Feb/04 Berlin Tegel Airport Transfers – How to get into the City
Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your
style? Find a German sweetheart here.
Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather
section.
Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.
Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of
charge.
Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.
Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss
- “Preserve the proven, shape the new” – the International Bach Academy in Stuttgart
For more than thirty years, Helmuth Rilling shaped the international Bach Academy; now he is succeeded by Hans-Christoph Rademann. - ‘Open Mike’ – Fireworks with the Buddha
The Berlin ‘Open Mike’ entered this year its twentieth edition. - On the Stage, the Spoken Word Prevails
In January 2013 the annual meeting of the Dramaturgical Society took place in Munich; its theme: “Speaking on Stage – and about Theatre”... - The Magician of Images – Klaus Ensikat
With the technique of an Old Master and subtle humour, the award-winning graphic designer and illustrator Klaus Ensikat has for fifty years produced ingenious illustrations for literary classics and children’s books.... - A Picture Every Day – Philip Waechter
Philip Waechter, son of the famous illustrator and cartoonist Friedrich Karl Waechter, is one of the best-known contemporary writers and illustrators of children’s books....
- German first feature film in Cannes
A directorial debut from Germany makes it to the competition “Un Certain Regard” at the famous film festival on the Côte d’Azur. - Traveling Germany: Europa-Park
Think theme parks:Roller coasters, colorful rides, entertainment, thrills. Think Germany: Europa-Park is the largest amusement park in the country, second in Europe only to Disneyland Paris. - Frankfurt – the digital hub
The Internet hub in Frankfurt am Main is the largest in the world and places Germany in a leading position in the digital world. - The European Year of Citizens
2013 is the European Year of Citizens. They‘re invited to contribute their ideas for the EU, and to discover more about their rights as EU citizens. An example: labour mobility. - Neuschwanstein Castle: In Photos
Neuschwanstein is the most popular tourist attraction in Germany. And for good reason. King Ludwig II's castle looks like it fell out of a book of fairy tales.
- Theatre festival between the Saar and the Mosel
The Festival Perspectives in the German-French region around Saarbrücken is staging European theatre, dance and music productions. - The European Year of Citizens
2013 is the European Year of Citizens. - Europe Day, Robert Schuman and Class 4a
Enthusiasm for the idea of Europe – in the 60th European Competition, schoolchildren from Germany show what this could look like. - Relief organizations
The portals presented here provide information on the help programs offered by different organizations.
- Business Development Manager (m/f) Maintenance and Premium Support Services
- Commodity Manager Control Systems m/f
- Commodity Manager Doors, Light Curtains m/f
- Commodity Manager IT m/f
- Country Manager Deutschland
- Design Engineer Aerospace in Toulouse
- Design Feasibility Engineer / Craftsmanship Engineer (m/f)
- ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS AT BERTELSMANN
- INTERN IT MANAGEMENT CONSULTING (M/F)
- IT MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT (M/F)
- 19/05 Car Boot Sale Herford
- 17/05 paid internship
- 17/05 Florida resident seeks job in baden Baden Germany
- 17/05 Berlin Writing Group
- 17/05 cheap car hire
- 15/05 Queen size bed & frame
- 14:28 Axis and Allies board game
- 14:26 Property law and my UK flat
- 14:03 Cheapest mobile phone service providers
- 13:56 Is learning 'der die das' impossible?
- 13:48 Looking for weight loss partners in Berlin
- 13:35 Book group looking at German Literature
- 13:08 Paying for kid/s in international schools
- 13:04 A question of science...
- 12:54 Translators' meetup, monthly networking event
- 12:51 Munich babysitters available
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!
'Charming, old, beamed cottage for holiday let in Jesus Pobre, Alicante, Spain
www.littlehouseinspain.com/
Professional and qualified consultancy on all insurance and finance matters in Germany, Telephone: +49 2163 571 1740, Email: bg@albatross-assurance.com
www.albatross-assurance.com
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.
Your comments about this article:
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Thomas
Let the folks at the local Rathaus deal with that one.
(As in the old American teacher's lexicom: "The vowels are: a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y.)