The Family Titles

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The following is the full list of titles (in seniority sequence) with the explanation on who is entitled to use them:-

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Predicate:-

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SENIOR:  His/Her Highness (See Notes).**

JUNIOR: The Honourable (The Hon).

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Senior Title:-

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* Imperial Count Engelbrecht (Greve / Reichsgraf Engelbrecht) (also "von Engelbrecht") (See Notes).*

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Junior Titles:-

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* Viscount Engelbrecht (German Burgrave).

* Baron Engelbrecht (German Baron / Baronin / Baronesse).

* Imperial Jonkheer Engelbrecht (German Reichsfreiherr / Freifrau / Freiherrin also abreviated to Freiin).

* Ritter Engelbrecht (Since 1260) (Netherlands equivalent/translation "Ridder")(English "Knight").

* Edler Engelbrecht (Snce 1145) (Netherlands equivalent/translation "Noble")

* Heren Engelbrecht (Since 1354)

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+"Etc." after a persons' name denotes that the person is entitled to ALL the titles as listed hereinabove.  At present this is used exclusively by the Head of the Family being the Count Engelbrecht von Stade.

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NOTES:

 

The different connotation of "van" (particle) in Dutch translates to "de" and "von" in French and German respectively and is utilised in context of the language spoken.  Thus, the Title Graf van Stade is translated in French as "de Stade' and in German as "von Stade".

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All sons and daughters of the family in the direct line of the current Head of the Family receive the title of Baron / Baroness Engelbrecht upon birth. (Senior line).  This use is according to the European, Spanish and German customs.​

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All sons and daughters of the family in the junior line receive the title of Jonkheer/Jonkvrouw Engelbrecht as the lowest title that can be held (Junior Line).  This use is according to the European, Spanish and German customs.  A son or daughter can therefore be born as "Baron/Baroness" and then be "downgraded" to "Jonkheer / Jonkvrouw" as the situation changes.  This happened with the 16th Count Engelbrecht Berg' brother and sister.

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Titles and Predicates are issued and instated according to the Family House Rules and can only be designated or created by the Current Head of the Family.  He/she usually consult with other family members before any changes are made.​

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The title remains for the holders use thereof until his/her demise.  Spouses of Jonkheer will use the courtesy title of "Jonkvrouw" while married to a "Jonkheer" or until she divorces the holder of the title.​

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Female born Jonkvrouw retain their titles for live, but her spouse or children do not attain any title upon marriage or birth.

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Upon divorce and / or with a second marriage the wife of such a male person do not receive any title, unless so created by the Head of the Family, who is always the current Count Engelbrecht von Stade.

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*The Senior Title of Reichsgraf Engelbrecht (translated as Imperial Count) is streamlined to only Count Engelbrecht as the English translation is not often used by similar noble families, other than when in Germany.

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**The Correct Predicate is (Erlauch) loosely translated to English as His / Her 'Illustrious Highness', however similar than above the correct translation from German to English does not give the correct connotation, hence in other countries it is streamlined to only His / Her Highness.

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The title of Lady Gamble (Baroness Gamble) is not a family title, but was held by Magda the former and late Countess Engelbrecht Berg.  She became the Lady Gamble upon her marriage to the late Lord Kenneth Gamble.  The Lady Gamble was entitled to use the following titles during her lifetime:-

 

o  Gräfin von Stade (As the youngest daughter of Graf Gabriel Johannes Petrus von Stade).

o  Her Highness the Imperial Countess Engelbrecht Berg (As the first wife of the 16th Count Engelbrecht Berg and mother to the current Count).

o  Lady (Baroness) Gamble (As the wife of the late Kenneth, Lord (Baron) Gamble.

 

The second wife of the 16th Count Engelbrecht Berg was specifically created "Baroness" with the predicate of "The Honourable" by the current Count Engelbrecht von Stade on 1 December 1986.  Prior to this date Theunetta Johanna Kloppers (Richter) held no title.

 

The step sister of the current Count Engelbrecht was created Olga Lady (Baroness) Gamble by the current Count Engelbrecht von Stade as the title is extinct due to the demise of her father, Lord Kenneth Gamble without any male heir.  She remains the last holder of this title, as a courtesy, as the title is not permitted to be transmitted in the female line.  Her husband and children derive no title from this creation.  The Lady Olga Gamble chooses not to utilise the title and prefers to be known by her married name as Mrs Olga Fensham.

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Married females utilise their titles as follows as per custom and is known as: -

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Marita Baroness Engelbrecht, Mrs Meyer; and

Annelien Baroness Engelbrecht, Mrs Smit.

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The Senior Title of Engelbrecht von Stade is only used by the current Count Engelbrecht.  His father, the late Willem Count Engelbrecht, utilised the title Count Engelbrecht Berg as a courtesy and to distinguish his title from that of his youngest son and heir, the current Head of the Family.

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The Spanish, European and French customs:

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The family utilise a combination of special family rules for the utilisation of titles to streamline their use.  According to the Spanish custom ALL Family members’ male or female will be entitled to ALL of the titles as it is transmitted in both the male and female line.  The French and European custom allocate certain titles (and their use) to certain family members, with the "Head of the House or Family" being the custodian thereof.  House Rules are instituted to regulate the utilisation of the titles and indicate who and when certain titles can be utilised by any one member of the family.

 

E.g.  To differentiate between the various living members utilising the Title of Count Engelbrecht, it is custom for the holder to designate himself with a title utilising the family surname with an appendage of the Mother's surname with certain exceptions.  The late Count Willem Engelbrecht utilised his grandmothers surname as "Berg" or "van den Berg" as she was the daughter of a Graaf van den Berg.  The current Head of the House utilises his title with the appendage of his mother's birth surname of "von Stade" according to the Spanish custom.  E.g.  Engelbrecht y von Stade.  The "y" is however dropped to streamline the title.  Note that a "new" title is not created.  The title is just "appendage" to differentiate between different members of the House.

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References:

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https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engelbrecht_(Familie)  [Accessed: 16 July 2020].

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https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engelbrecht_(els%C3%A4ssisches_Adelsgeschlecht)  [Accessed: 16 July 2020].

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https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engelbrecht_(limburgisches_Adelsgeschlecht)  [Accessed: 16 July 2020].

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http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/FRANCONIA%20(LOWER%20RHINE).htm  [Accessed: 1 August 2020].

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Niederrheins Urkundenbuch, Band III, 549, p. 458  [Accessed: 1 August 2020].

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