[Northkeep] German names and their meanings

[OttokarLuther at aol.com]

the name Munchausen is an English bastardizing of the German Münchhausen.  
Münch is an ancient German family name. hausen  means houses,  so  Münchhausen 
means Münches houses or if taken by meaning it is where the Münch  family lives.
 
the so called Baron von Munchausen was a fictional character in Baron  
Munchausen's Narrative of His Marvellous Travels and Campaigns in Russia  published 
in 1785 in England it was written by a English man named Rudolph  Erich Raspe 
(1737-1794). Raspe based his main character on Karl Friedrich  Hieronymus 
Freiherr von Münchhausen (1720-1797), Raspe had spent some time while  traveling 
Europe at the Freiherr's estate.
 
The historical figure Karl Friedrich Hieronymus  Freiherr von  Münchhausen  
Born in 1720 in Bodenwerder, Münchhausen served initially  as a page to Prince 
Anton Ulrich von Braunschweig, and later as a cornet,  lieutenant and cavalry 
captain with a Russian regiment in two Turkish wars.  Münchhausen was known 
during his lifetime as an excellent raconteur of anecdotes  about war, hunting 
and travel adventure.
 
there is a whole bunch more and I could write several pages however  since I 
have gone on way to long already the simple answer is yes
 
although somewhat small the non Imperial Barony of Münchhausen did exist.  
The Baronial seat was in the town of Bodenwerder  under the  protection of the 
non imperial Principality of Hanover. apx 40 miles from  Hanover 
 
Ottokar