I18n issue: French family names with "de"

From: John Cowan (cowan@locke.ccil.org)
Date: Thu Oct 22 1998 - 17:01:33 EDT

IIRC, monosyllabic names always keep the "de" (Charles de Gaulle,
de Gaulle), but longer names drop it when there is no prenom
(Alexis de Tocqueville, Tocqueville). "D'" is never dropped.

Is this correct current usage? Is it correct historical usage? 

-- 
John Cowan	http://www.ccil.org/~cowan		cowan@ccil.org
	You tollerday donsk?  N.  You tolkatiff scowegian?  Nn.
	You spigotty anglease?  Nnn.  You phonio saxo?  Nnnn.
		Clear all so!  'Tis a Jute.... (Finnegans Wake 16.5)

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