List of Dutch noble families

Posted on by

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dutch nobility is regulated by act of law in the Wet op de adeldom (Law Regarding Nobility, passed into law on May 10, 1994) and is overseen by the Hoge Raad van Adel [nl] (High Council of Nobility), an official state institution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Before 1814, the history of nobility was separate for each of the Dutch provinces. In the Early Middle Ages, there were, in each province, a number of feudal lords who often were just as powerful, and sometimes more so, than the rulers themselves. In old times, no title other than knight existed.

In the middle of the fourteenth century, quarrels between the feudal lords reduced many families and castles to ruins, contributing to the Dukes of Burgundys’ acquisition by conquest or inheritance of many of the provinces forming the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

In 1581, representatives of the Seven Provinces abjured Philip II of Spain, heir of the Dukes of Burgundy. This left a great part of the executive and legislative power to the Ridderschap (knightly estate) of each province, which consisted of the representatives of those families of the old feudal nobility.

In 1795, the Batavian Revolution did away with their power, and it was not before 1813, when William I became King of the Netherlands, that they were again given power in another form. Still, by the time of the constitution of 1848, they had no influence in government affairs.

In 1813, if no higher title was recognised, the men only were to bear the hereditary predicate of Jonkheer. Some old feudal families obtained the title of Baron or Baroness for all their descendants.

Older nobility, having been granted their titles by either the Holy Roman Emperors or French Kings long before 1813, held their pre-existent titles, which were confirmed in the new Kingdom of the Netherlands (such as the families Bentinck, Limburg Stirum and Van Rechteren). In some of these families it is more usual that only the oldest male descendant bears the family title while other descendants bear the predicate of Jonkheer (m) or Jonkvrouw (f).

Princes/Princesses[edit]

Dukes/Duchesses[edit]

The title Duke/Duchess (Hertog in Dutch) is no longer in existence in noble families of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in this day and age.

Marquises/Marquesses[edit]

  • Le Poer Trench; the Earl of Clancarty in the peerage of Ireland is the Marquis of Heusden, Earl of Clancarty COA.svg [2]
  • D’Auxy
  • Van Hoensbroeck (this family left the Netherlands in the 19th century. Known in Germany as Graf von und zu Hoensbroech, the head of this family bears the titles of Marquis and Count von und zu Hoensbroech) Hoensbroech-Wappen.gif
  • Van Eeden, Earl (Graaf) van Mijnsheerenland, Baron van Moerkerken-Damme, and Viscount (Burggraaf) van Binnenmaas. The family was established in the 15th century from French, Belgian and Dutch ancestries in the province of South Holland. They acquired their status of nobility during the time of William III of Orange and became one of the most influential families of the Dutch Royal Court. In the late 17th century the family branched out and migrated to Belgium and Germany. From the early 18th to 19th century, many members of the family emigrated and established themselves in North America and South Africa. The family no longer holds official lands or positions at the Dutch Royal court or within the government. The current Marquise van Eeden resides in the United Kingdom

Counts/Countesses[edit]

Viscounts/Viscountesses[edit]

Barons/Baronesses[edit]

Coat of arms van den Boetzelaer

Coat of arms Taets van Amerongen
  • d’Ablaing van Giessenburg (extinct in the Netherlands)(Now prominent in the US)

Hereditary knights/Jonkvrouwen[edit]

  • De Behr (extinct 1954)
  • De Bye (also: Van der Does de Bye)
  • Van Citters
  • Von Devivere
  • Du Bus (extinct 1976)
  • Van der Heim (extinct 1898)
  • Huyssen van Kattendijke
  • Van Lockhorst (extinct 1921)
  • De Maurissens
  • Pauw
  • De Plevits
  • Van Rappard [nl]
  • Van der Renne (extinct 1964)
  • Van Rosenthal
  • De van der Schueren
  • De Stuers
  • De Thier
  • Van Westreenen van Tiellandt (extinct 1848)

Jonkheren/Jonkvrouwen[edit]

Jonkheer/Jonkvrouw

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Sources[edit]

  • Melville de Massue, Marquis de Ruvigny, The Nobilities of Europe, Adamant Media Corporation, 2000

External links[edit]