How is the word 'van' in the name 'van Halen' called. I think it is a little uncommon to have this in a British name. I am referring to words like: van in the name van Halen del in the name del Torres de la in the name de la Mancha Is there a word from this in English? Prefix perhaps? In Dutch it is voorvoegsel, but that probably does not help much with the question.