History

A Brief Summary of Padberg Family History*

The ancestors of the Padberg family are among the oldest families in the Northwestern part of what is Germany today. Of our known ancestors, the earliest was Clovis, the Riparian (466-511), Chief of the Riparian Tribe of the Franks and his father, Childenic, the King of the Salian Franks. Through the years the number of our known ancestors continued to grow not just in number, but in connection with many additional families many of whom were leaders of the Franks and the Saxons.

One if the most famous of these ancestral families was the Frankish family first made famous by Karl Martel (688-741) and his grandson, Charlemagne (742-814). The major military record of this family began with Karl Martel’s victory that stopped the Saracen invasion into Europe through southern Spain. Charlemagne continued the effort of his grandfather through victories over the Saxons and the spread of Christianity through the Roman Catholic Church. His influence became even more powerful after 800 when he was named the First Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Subsequent Emperors, most relatives of Charlemagne, but all follower of Charlemagne’s goals.

One of Charlemagne’s Saxon relatives was Count Ekbert of the village of Geseke who in the late 700’s was award 10 Fiefs to be controlled as a Saxon. One of his decendents, Hahold I, in 930, was instructed by Holy Roman Emperor Otto I to build a castle fortification from which three strategic roads could be protected.

The three important roads were the old military road (Heerstrasse) that ran from Eresburg into the Ruhr Valle, the wine road (Weinstrasse) that ran from Frankfurt to the North Sea, and the king’s road (Konigstrasse) that ran from Eresburg to Paderborn, the seat of the bishop and location of one of the castles of Charlemagne. The Weinstrasse was the road used by Charlemagne on his first military campaign through Westphalia in 772.

Count Haholde and his knights selected a nearby mountain, roughly 1700 feet in height for the construction of the castle. The mountain called a “berg” (probably originally berch) was an excellent strategic point for visual surveillance of all three roads or “paths”. The mountain eventually was called “Pathbertch” or “Pathberg” or “Padberg”. In the old Saxon language, the letters th were pronounced as “d” or “t”. Along with general inconsistencies in spelling, the name was spelled with all possible consonant variations such as th, dr, d, t, and tt.

The castle construction began in 936 and was completed in 972. Hahold III, grandson of Haholde I, was the first to use the family name calling himself Count Haholde, Lord of Pathberch.

Haholde III died in 1029 and left the Padberg family county to his son, Count Bernard von Padberg. However, the wife of Haholde III was declared illegitimate. Which meant that the children of Haholde and his wife were illegitimate. Therefore, Count Bernhard von Padberg was illegitimate and did not have the rights of an heir. Bernhard was disinherited. The Bishop of Paderborn brought a suit for the Church at Paderborn to acquire the Padberg property. The case was presented to the Holy Roman Emperor Konrad II. This is significant because a document from 1030 shows that Konrad gave the Padberg property and ten surrounding estates to the Bishop of Paderborn. It is the first time that Padberg is mentioned historically in any document. (see Landmarks and Documents). However, the Bishop of Paderborn apparently did not have enough power and influence to assume control of the property. Bernhard von Padberg refused to relinquish control, threatened rebellion, and was able to maintain control of the Padberg territory.

The line of counts became extinct with the death of Count Erpo von Padberg in 1113. Beatrix, the widow of Count Erpo, donated the hereditary estates of Padberg to the Archbishop Friedrich I of Koln (today Cologne). Through this donation, the archbishop had rights of jurisdiction over the Castle Padberg and all the property that was part of its estates with all of it being in the dominion of the archbishop. He was successful in establishing his authority over the family as he installed a ministerial generation of Padbergs which called themselves “Lords von Padberg”. The family was then subordinate to the archbishop.

By the end of the twelfth century, in 1196, the Lords von Padberg began construction of a second castle, the New Castle. It was completed in 1220. In 1254, for the first time, two brothers were named Lords of the Castle Padberg, Johann and Gottschalk.

The town of Padberg is recorded in documents as early as 1201. In 1204 there is a reference to the market in the town and in 1217 there is reference to the village being adjacent to the castle. There is a mention of the Parish Padberg in 1255 and 1256 indicating a church in the town.

By 1263 the power of the Archbishop of Koln had weakened. The Lords of Padberg considered themselves independent Lords with extensive territory rights. Johann and Gottschalk made significant changes in governing the citizens of Padberg, making public laws and granting citizenship and rights to the people of the town. These rights included an appointment of a judge and town council to solve disputes between citizens and promote proper enforcement of the rights of the citizens. All citizens were required to pay taxes to the Lords von Padberg. These rights were reconfirmed several times in the fourteenth century.

From 1300 until the mid-sixteenth century there was fierce fighting and feuding between the Padberg family, the Archbishop of Koln, and the Waldeck family, another powerful family with their own dominion or county. In the two and a half centuries of fighting and feuding, the town of Padberg suffered much destruction. It was burned in 1394, and then rebuilt. Records from 1397 indicate the rebuilt town had a thick wall and fortifications, two gates and a moat and stockades. It was referred to as the Ring Padberg indicating the wall surrounding the town. However, there was more extensive fighting, the town was burned again in 1414. The castles were attacked many times as well and were also destroyed. Today, only the foundation of the second castle can be seen.

The Padberg dominion was greatly reduced and the Waldeck family gained control of much of the Padberg dominion but was unable to reduce or renounce the rights of the citizens of Padberg. The rights given to the citizens of the town by the Lords von Padberg in 1263 had been in existence for 300 years.

Beginning in the1500’s, the residents of the Ring of Padberg tried repeatedly to become independent of the Lords von Padberg. The residents wanted free access to the forests to cut down trees for firewood and to make charcoal, and to graze their animals. They refused their payments and service to the Lords and also drove the Lords and charcoal makers out of the Forest. The conflict between the residents and the Lords continued intermittently from 1552 until 1806 when it was finally settled. Residents were allowed all necessary wood for building and charcoal and use of the fields for animal grazing. Pastures remained open and residents of the community of Padberg received a large portion of the forest wealth.

In 1816, the duchy of Westphalia became part of Prussia. At that time the Ring Padberg had 562 inhabitants. There were 494 Catholics, 2 Lutherans, 2 Reformed, and 64 Jewish citizens. Jews were mentioned in the Dominion of Padberg for the first time in 1672 but had likely settled there much earlier. Jews had protection which meant they were not considered citizens but were protected by the Lords and were permitted to reside and conduct business in the dominion. In 1847 all Jews were given full citizenship by the Prussian government. There was a synagogue in Padberg as well as in the nearby town of Berninghausen. By 1841 each town in Prussia was self-governed with a town council and mayor or director. In 1820 the first school was built in Padberg but soon became too small. A larger school was built in 1865. A still larger school was built in 1925. The Fire Department was formed in 1821. In 1871 the German Empire was formed under Otto von Bismark, with the unification of the German states. By 1900, Germany was the most powerful country in Europe.

Immigration information here and also information on the Sieperting and Kustelberg branches. And development of the German branches

During World War I, many citizens of Padberg served in the German army. Thirty-five were killed in action. During the 1930’s all Jews left the town of Padberg. Some were able to emigrate. Others were deported to concentration camps. In World War II, 24 residents were killed in action and 16 were missing in action. At the end of WWII, in March 1945, air attacks were frequent in the area of Padberg. By Easter, April 1, 1945, US tanks and trucks rolled through the town. German soldiers were taken as prisoners and sent to France. Homes were searched for weapons. After a few days the Americans left the area. In 1946 during the reorganization of West Germany, the Province of Westphalia became North Rhine-Westphalia.

*Based on the book The Changes Through Time The History of the Community of Padberg

English edition by Daniel L. Padberg, 1986

1030 Document

The Document of 1030 represents a significant milestone in the history of the family as the first official use of the name Padberg as a surname. The document also becomes a precursor to a long history of struggle to maintain the identity of the family and its property in the Sauerland amidst the ever-changing geo-politics of Europe and the Church.

The Document of 1030[1]

The document itself,[2] which measures 20 inches in width and 19 inches in height, is written in secular Latin, the official language of the Holy Roman Empire. The style of script, called Carolingian Minuscule, was among the first to utilize both upper and lower case letters. The text read at court was officiated both by the seal of the Emperor and the monograph.

Document of June 1, 1030

(English Translation)

CONRAD II, EMPEROR OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE

CONRAD, by the favor of divine clemency, august Roman Emperor. Be it known to all Christians, present and future, that on the intervention and petition of our beloved spouse Gisela, august Empress, and of our very dear son King Henry, as well as Meinwercus, Bishop of the Church of Paderborn, we have consigned the terrain called Padberg (Pathberch) of a certain Count Bernard, together with ten fiefs adjacent to the same mountain, situation in the district of Nichterga and in the territory of Count Haholde, which therefore came into our possession by legal inheritance since the same Bernard was a spurious count and was commonly called Wanburtich [i.e. “Bastard”], to the monastery of the above mentioned Bishop of Paderborn, which is dedicated to St. Mary, St. Kilian, martyr, and St. Liborius, confessor, together with the services of both sexes, the colonies, sites and building, acres, cultivated and uncultivated ground, roads and roadless places, fields, pastures, woods, hunting, water and streams, fishing, mills, expenses and receipts, interrogations and investigations, as well as all appurtenances accruing to the same estate, in such fashion that the said monastery shall have perpetual control thereof. And in order that this consignment may remain firm and unshaken for all time, we have ordained that this document, signed by our own hand, be corroborated by the impression of our seal.

Attested by Odalricus, Chancellor in lieu of Archchaplain Aribo.

Given on the Calends of June in the year of the Lord’s Incarnation 1030, the 13^th Indiction, the 6^th year of the reign of Lord Conrad, and the 4^th of his empire. Done at Mersburg.

[1] 1030 Document – Latin Text:

CONRADUS DIVINA FAVENTE CLEMENTIA ROMANORUM IMPERATOR AUGUSTUS.

Notum sit omnibus Christi fidelibus, praesentibus scilicet atque futuris, qualiter nos ob interventum ac petitionem nostrae dilectae Conjugis Gisla, Imperatricis videlicet augustae, et amantissimae prolis nostrae Heinrici Regis, nec non Meinwerci Paderburn Ecclesiae Episcopi, quoddam Bernhardi Comitis praedium Patberch dictum, cum mansis decem circa eundem montem adjacentibus in Pago Nichterga et in Comitatu Haholdi Comitis situm, quod ideo haeredictario jure in nostram potestatem successit, quid idem ipse Bernhardus comes spurius erat, quod vulgo Wanburtich dicunt, ad Paderburn praescripti Episcopi Monasterium in honore sanctae Mariae et S. Kilianis martyris, santique Liborii Confessoris consecratum, tradidimus cum mancipiis utriusque sexus villis, areis aedificiis, agris, terris cultis et incultis, viis et inviis, pratis, pascuis, silvis, venationibus, acquis aquarumque decursibus, piscationibus, molendis, exitibus et reditibus, quaesitis et inquirendis, nec non cum omnibus appendiciis ad idem praedium jure pertinentibus, ea videlicet ratione, ut in praescripti monasterii potestatem perpetualiter existat. Et ut haes nostra traditio stabilis et inconvulsa omni permaneat aevo, hanc paginam inde conscriptam propriaque manu roboratum sigilli nostri impressione jussimus insignivi.

Odalricus Cancellarius vice Aribonis Archicapellani recognovit. Data Calendis Junii anno Dominicae Incarnationis MXXX. Indictione XIII Anno Domni Conradi regnantis VI imperii vero IIII. actum Mersburg.

[2] The original is preserved in the State Archives of North Rhine-Westphalia at Münster, Germany.

Four alternate spellings

PADBERG, PADTBERG, PATBERG, PATTBERG GENEALOGY

A Note to Americans on the

Spelling of Our Name

Americans frequently do not understand that our name is pronounced the same in the German language regardless of spelling. Consequently, variations in spelling are less emphasized by our European cousins. The first writing of the family name appeared on a document of Emperor Conrad II of the Holy Roman Empire in 1030. In this document, concerning a dispute over the property of Count Haholde von Padberg with Meinwerkus, Bishop of Paderborn, the name is spelled Pathberch. The origin of the name became clear from the records of these early times. In 936, Haholde I, Count from Geseke, constructed a castle (burg) fortification on a mountain (berg) in the Sauerland of southeastern Westphalia (Westfalen). The castle was completed in 972. From this mountain fortress, the occupants were able to observe three strategic roads called pathes in old German. Thus, the name of the place evolved to Pathberch, Pathberg, and eventually Padberg. The three roads viewed from the mountain were the Konigstrasse (King’s Road), the Weinstrasse (Wine Road), and the Heerstrasse (Military Road). When the town at the base of the mountain was officially founded in 1263 it was called Padberg. However, the family had begun to use the name as a surname over two centuries earlier.

Eventually the family in the original castle called the Old House began to call themselves Padtberg, while the family in the other castle, known as the New House, constructed between 1180 and 1220, more typically used the spelling of Padberg. However, many documents written in Latin or kept by the Church spelled the name Patberg, the typical spelling pattern of that language.

In subsequent centuries, as members of the family left the old community of Padberg, spelling changes became even more common. The noble branch in the village of Helminghausen spelled their name Padtberg, because they were closely related to the Old House Padberg. In the Branches Sieperting and Küstelberg (the largest branch) the Padberg spelling is the most common, probably because of their close relationship with the New House Padberg. Early members of the family who migrated into the Ruhr Valley (Ruhrgebiet), some as early as the 13^th Century, frequently spelled their name Pattberg. Today in the Ruhrgebiet families with all four spellings can be found, because this urban-industrial area attracted members of all spellings. However, today in the villages of the Sauerland, the mountainous region in southeast Westphalia, the Padberg spelling is most prevalent.

In the 19^th century when the immigration of members of the family to the Western Hemisphere began, families of the three most common modern spellings, Padberg, Patberg, and Pattberg, found homes in new lands. The most dominant of spellings in America, as in Europe, is the Padberg variation. Families in Australia and Asia are descendants of the families from the Netherlands; therefore the most typical spelling is also Padberg.

In the 200+ years of active genealogical research in our family, every individual family being studied has eventually fit into the old family tree. While 17^th and 18^th Century connections continue to challenge researchers today, patience and perseverance have proved successful. Connections have and will eventually be made.

Dr. Daniel L. Padberg, Ph.D.

Brief Summary of Family History *

Earliest Ancestors: Clovis the Riparian (466-511), Chief of the Riparian Tribe of Franks and his father Childic, King of the Salian Franks.

The most famous ancestral families were Karl Martel (688-741) and his grandson, Charlemagne (742-814).

Karl Martel and his armies stopped the Saracen invasion of Europe.

Charlemagne and his armies were victorious over the Saxons. He spread Christianity through the Catholic church in Europe. Charlemagne was name the First Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

Count Ekbert the Saxon, married Ida in 786AD. Ida was a first cousin of Charlemagne, therefore, she was of the House of Charlemagne.
Count Ekbert was given an extensive county district in the Sauerland, known today as Westphalia in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Counts had obligations or responsibilities known as ‘Rights of the Count’. These were to lead the army and protect the land in their county, supervise castles, and protect the Church and clergy.
The great-grandson of Count Ekbert began using the family name of Haholde. Count Haholde I (need dates) was instructed by the Holy Roman Emperor Otto I (912-973), a distant cousin of Haholde I, to build a castle or fortification to protect the three roads running through the forested regions of the Sauerland to prevent invasion by foreign troops.
The three roads were: the military road, the Heerstrasse, that ran from Eresburg into the Ruhr Valle; the wine road, the Weinstrasse, that ran from Frankfurt to the North Sea; and the king’s road, the Konigstrasse, that ran from Eresburg to Paderborn, the seat of the bishop and location of one of the castles of Charlemagne.
Haholde I selected a nearby mountain roughly 1700 feet in height for the construction of the castle. The mountain called a “berg” (probably originally berch) was an excellent strategic point for visual surveillance of all three roads or “paths”.
The mountain eventually was called “Pathbertch” or “Pathberg” or “Padberg”.
The castle was constructed 936-972 in the old Saxon style with the castle walls built in concentric circles down the mountain. The count and his family lived in the castle.
Count Haholde III, grandson of Haholde I, was the first to use the family name calling himself Count Haholde, Lord of Pathberch.
Haholde III died in 1029 leaving the county to his son, Count Bernard von Padberg. However, the wife of Haholde III was declared illegitimate which meant that children of Haholde III and his wife were illegitimate. Therefore, Count Bernard was illegitimate and was disinherited.
The Bishop of Paderborn brought a suit for the Church at Paderborn to acquire the Padberg property. The case was presented the Holy Roman Emperor Konrad II. A document from 1030 shows that Konrad gave the Padberg property and ten surrounding estates to the Bishop of Paderborn.
The 1030 document is significant because it si the first time that Padberg is mentioned.
The Bishop of Paderborn did not have enough power and influence to assume control of the property. Bernard refused to relinquish control, threatened rebellion, and was able to maintain control of the Padberg territory and the rights of the Count.
In 1101, the last Count from the Haholde line, Erpo von Padberg, founded a monastery at Flechtdorf. He donated the entire monastery property from the county of the family Haholde.
Count Erpo von Padberg died in 1113 and the line of counts was extinct. Beatrix, widow of Erpo, donated the hereditary estates of Padberg to the Archbishop Friedrich I of Koln (today Cologne).
The archbishop then had rights of jurisdiction over the Castle Padberg. All the property that was part of the estate became the dominion of the archbishop.
Archbishop Friedrich I was successful in establishing his authority over the family. He installed a ministerial generation of Padbergs which called themselves, “Lords von Padberg”. The family was subordinate to the archbishop.
Engelbert I, Archbishop of Koln from 1216-1225 strengthened his power. In 1217 Gottschalk von Padberg, of the Castle Padberg, was forced to promise the archbishop protection and open his castle to the archbishop.
The Lords von Padberg constructed the second Padberg castle, the New Castle, built between 1196-1220.
In 1254, for the first time, two brothers were named Lords of the Castle Padberg, Johann and Gottschalk.
The town of Padberg is recorded in documents as early as 1201. In 1204 there is a reference to a market in the town. In 1217 there is reference to a village adjacent to the castle. In 1247 and 1248 there are documents showing residents of the town of Padberg as legal witnesses. The Parish Padberg is mentioned in 1255 and 1256 indicating a church in the town.
In 1263, the power of the Archbishop of Koln has weakened. The Lords of Padberg considered themselves independent with extensive territory rights. Johann and Gottschalk gave rights to the citizens of Padberg, made public laws, and granted citizenship to the people of the town. There was an appointment of a judge and town council to solve disputes and proper enforcement of laws was also outlined. Residents were required to pay taxes.
These rights were confirmed by Friedrich von Padberg in 1290. The Lords von Padberg confirmed them again in 1307 and 1374.
From 1300 until the mid-sixteenth century there was fierce fighting and feuding between the Padberg family, the Archbishop of Koln and the Waldeck family, another powerful family with their own county.
In 1576 the Salentin Treaty was signed acknowledging that the Archbishop of Koln had the rights of the feudal lord over the Padberg dominion.
In the over two hundred years of righting the town of Padberg suffered much destruction. It was burned in 1394 and rebuilt. Records from 1397 indicate the town had a thick weall or ring, fortifications, two gates and a moat and stockades.
The town was burned again in 1414. The castles were attacked many times and were destroyed. Today, only the existing foundation of the second castle can be seen.
The Waldeck family gained control of much of the Padberg dominion but they were unable to reduce or renounce the rights of the citizens of Padberg. Those rights had been in existence for well over 300 years.
In the 1500’s, the residents of the Ring of Padberg as it became known, tried repeatedly to become independent from the Lords of Padberg. The conflict between the Lords and residents continued off and on from 1552 until 1806.
From 1730 to 1756 the residents petitioned for free access to the forest to cut down wood and make charcoal. Their request was denied and the rights of the Lords von Padberg over the forest were affirmed. The residents rebelled. The rebellion was quickly put down by troops sent to aid the Lords von Padberg.
In 1806 the centuries long battle for the forest around the town or Ring Padberg was settled. The heir to the Padberg Dominion, Baron Droste Vischering zu Padtberg, retained exclusive rights to part of the forest. Pastures remained open to residents and the community of Padberg received a large portion of the forest wealth.
In 1816, the duchy of Westphalia became part of Prussia. At that time the Ring Padberg had 562 inhabitants. There were 494 Catholics, 2 Lutherans, 2 Reformed, and 64 Jewish residents.
In 1847 all Jews were given full citizenship by the Prussian government. There was a synagogue in Padberg. By 1841 each town in Prussia was self-governed with a town council and mayor or director. In 1820 the first school was built in Padberg but soon became too small. /a larger school was built in 1865, and a still larger school was built in 1925. The Fire Department was formed in 1821. In 1871 the German states were formed into the German Empire under Otto von Bismark.
During World War I, many citizens of Padberg served in the German Army. Thirty-five were killed in action. During the 1930’s all Jewish residents left Padberg. Some were abnle to emigrate. Others were deported to concentration camps. In World War II, many residents served again in the army. Twenty-four were killed in action, 16 were missing in action.
Air attacks were frequent in the area of Padberg towards the end of the war in March, 1945. By April 1, US troops entered the town of Padberg. German soldiers were taken prisoner and sent to France. Homes were searched for weapons. The US troops left the area after a few days.
In 1946 during the reorganization of West Germany, the province of Westphalia became North Rhine-Westphalia.

*Based on the book, Changes through Time the History of the Community of Padberg translated by Daniel Padberg, 1986