I am a non-German speaking person and need to know the significance of the prefix "Von". I ask because my Von Elias relatives shortened it to Elias and are said to be from Prussia but I cannot find any records of birth/baptisms/marriages in Europe and aside from knowing the year of immigration (1855) I have no idea as to what port or anything else. Thanks to anyone who can answer this. My people settled first in Detroit, MI, then Sheboygan and Manitowoc Co, WI, Houghton & Keweenaw Cos., MI, and then back to Detroit.