The Terlinden family is a Belgian noble family of German origin, with a noble offspring in Belgium. Its titles are Viscount and Baron.

History

The origin of the family Terlinden lies in the town of Rheinberg in the Rhine valley, where its members fulfilled duties of responsibility, from the fourteenth century on. Around 1580, the local ruler, archbishop of Cologne, abjured the catholic faith and embraced the Luteran belief. Cornelius Terlinden decided to flee the country and settled in Antwerp. After a few years he moved to Alost, where he became a brewer and was also appointed as an alderman. He was succeeded by his son, Imbrecht Terlinden. In 1676 king Charles II of Spain granted hereditary nobility to Cornelius Terlinden (?-1691), a son of Imbrecht Terlinden and Jeanne de Smet. He became alderman of Alost and general collector for Alost and the Alost area, and also for Grammont and the Grammont area. He was succeeded in these offices by three generations Terlinden. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, Charles Terlinden married in Ghent and lived there. His sons, Charles and Prosper Terlinden, settled in Brussels and founded two distinct branches. The first was recognized within Belgian nobility in 1874, the second in 1900. The third son, Jules, also settled in Brussels, did not ask for nobility recognition and had no descendants.

Genealogy

Charles Terlinden

Prosper Terlinden

Motto

The general family motto louds: Some members have differend motto's: Luc Terlinden, archbishop of Malines-Brussels has chosen for his motto:

Sources and Literature