can anybody help me? I am trying to find out why the von was dropped in bergen. found out by accident when i was little at my uncles house, on an envelope it said von bergen when i asked my father, he was mad all he would say is they were mean people, thet got kicked out of switzerland, so they dropped the word von from bergen.and i was never to say von again. he went to his grave never telling us. I just can't figure out what could be so bad. don't even know what time period he was talking about.and i don't know that side of the family.