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The Harsdorf von Enderndorfs (alternatively: Harsdörffer, Harsdoerfer, Harsdorfer, or Harstörfer) are an old aristocratic family of the Free Imperial City of Nuremberg in (today Nuremberg, Germany). Their name was first documented in 1377 and they were, except for short interuptions, part of the city’s “Inner Council” from 1450 to the end of the imperial city era in 1806.

History/Origin

The Harsdorfs are originally from the area around Kulmbach; most likely from the village Harsdorf. In the middle of the 14th century two members of the family settled in Nuremberg and accepted the citizenship in 1377/80. They must have been quite wealthy early on, since by the beginnings of the 15th century they were already one of the families that financially supported King Rupert of Germany [1]. Other families include: Schürstab, Rummel von Zant und Lonnerstadt, Stromer von Reichenbach, and Herdegen Valzner. They increased their wealth through far-trade among other things: the Harsdorfsche Handlesgesellschaft (Harsdorf Trade Company) is documented exist and have traded with bohemian cities since 1460. Together with the Tetzel von Kirchensittenbachs they entertained a copper mine in Enzendorf. The Harsdorfs were active entrepreneurs in the copper regions around Thüringen and Sachsen until the early 17th century and were, towards the end, strongly connected to the Imhoffs.

In 1813 the Harsdorf von Enderndorfs were promoted to nobles of the bavarian aristocracy and in 1841 they received the title of Barons / Freiherr [2].

Estates

•since 1537: the Harsdorf Castle in Fischbach [3]

•since 1809: family estate in Dipolsdorf near Simmelsdorf

Former Estates (selection)

•1676-1903: the name giving estate in Enderndorf

•1402/03-1508: estate in Eschenbach near Pommelsbrunn (today: Ebnerschloss)

•1404-????: Fortress Spies near Betzenstein

•1433-????: former estate of Reicheneck zu Alfalter near Kirchensittenbach

•1438/40-1441/45: Neunhof bei Lauf

•1506-1516: Castle and Blacksmith Thalheim near Habburg

•1572-1626: Land and Estate in Artelshofen

•1466/72-1511: estate and copper mine in Enzendorf near Artelshofen

•1707-1730: estate Weiherhaus near Stein (the Faber-Castell Park)

•????-????: estate Kleingeschaidt (today: “Schlossbauernhof”)

•1870-????: manor Riegelstein [1]

Art Commissions

•“Olberggruppe” for the choir of the Kartäuserkirche (Church of Kartäus) from the workshop of Adam Kraft (commissioned by Peter Harsdorf, 1489/99)

•five altar-wings for the altarpiece of the Katharinenkirche (Church of Katharine) from the workshop of Hans Traut (comissioned by Andreas Harsdorf and his wife "Ursula Behaim von Schwarzbach und Kirchensittenbach", 1490/95)

Famous Family Members

•Hans Harsdorf (????-1511), merchant and entrepreneur

•Georg Philipp Harsdörffer (1607-1658), Lawyer and Writer, Head of Council of Nuremberg, in 1644: co-founder of the Pegnischer Blumenorden (a society for Language and Literature in Nuremberg, still existing today), inventor/author of the Nürnberger Trichter (the Nuremberg Funnel)

•Carl Christoph Harsdorf von Enderndorf (1778-1839), Lawyer, Second Mayor, Supervisor of the Nuremberg Bank, Co-founder of the “Christoph-Gesellschaft”

Family Crest

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Harsdorf_Siebmacher205_-_Nürnberg.jpg

•red background

•a golden ‘Dreiberg’ (three connected Hills)

•a silver tower without gates and with three shafts

References

1. ↑ Burg Riegelstein [3]

This article is initially a translation of this German version: [4]

Literature

▪ Christoph von Imhoff (Hrsg.): Berühmte Nürnberger aus neun Jahrhunderten. Nürnberg: Hofmann, 1984, 425 S., ISBN 3-87191-088-0; 2., erg. u. erw. Auflage, 1989, 459 S.; Neuauflage: Edelmann GmbH Buchhandlung, Oktober 2000

▪ Michael Diefenbacher, Rudolf Endres (Hsg.): Stadtlexikon Nürnberg. Verlag W. Tümmels, Nürnberg, 2. verb. Aufl. 2000, ISBN 3-921590-69-8

Weblinks

▪ Das Wappen Harsdorf von Enderndorf [5]

▪ Das Harsdorfer Schlösschen und Geschichte von Enderndorf [6]