Country Kingdom of Hungary | ||
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Founded 1255 (Kisjeszen branch)1278 (Nagyjeszen branch) Founder András Temérdek (Kisjeszen branch)Mágya (Nagyjeszen branch) Cadet branches Kisjeszen branchNagyjeszen branch Similar Hirsch von Pomischel, Sucharda, Vítkovci | ||
Jeszenszky or Jesenský (also Jessensky, Jessinsky, Jessensky de Gross Jessen) is the name of two old noble families in the Kingdom of Hungary. They have a mutual name but their origins are different.
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Kisjeszen branch
The first known ancestor of the Kisjeszen (Minor Jeszen) branch was the castle warrior András Temérdek who received lands in Túróc (Slovak: Turiec) county from king Béla IV of Hungary in 1255. The family introduced their new surname after the name of a village "Jeszen" (Jaseno, now Turčianske Jaseno). In the 14th century the family used the "Kisjeszeni" name form and the Slavic variant of their name "Jeszenszky" came into use only from the 15th century.
Nagyjeszen branch
The first known member of the Nagyjeszen (Major Jeszen) branch was called Mágya. In 1278 Mágya received his noble title, because of his valor in the Battle on the Marchfeld.
Famous members of the families
Ladislaus Jesenský died in 1526 during the catastrophic Battle of Mohács. Subsequently, all Jesenský property was confiscated by the advancing Ottomans, so brothers Melchior, Lorenz and Balthasar Jesenský moved to Silesia (then part of the Crown of Bohemia) and lived in Wrocław and Świdnica from 1541 onward. Balthasar's son was Ján Jesenský, known as Jan Jesenius, famous scientist and politician who lived and died in Prague, Bohemia.
Branches of the family are still living in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, United States and England.
Important family members: