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Bethe

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Betha
Bethe, Betha della Beta
Noble family
Country Germany
 United States
Place of originPomerania, and the Crusader States
Founded14th century
Titles
Connected familiesHouse of Nostitz
Zaccaria dynasty
House of Croÿ-Havré
House of Dyhrn
Livingston family
House of McInnis-Stuart
Estate(s)Château de Krobnitz
Markendorf
Conitz

The House of Betha or Bethe is an Austro-German noble family constituting a part of the Uradel. Noted in Prussian history since the early 14th century, the lineage has constituted various ecclesiastical and political roles, such as Crusader knights, clergy, and later minor political figures in the Herrenhaus.

History

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The first notable person to hold the name was Caspar von Bethe, a knight of the Teutonic Order who led the Polish-Teutonic wars.[1] After the conquest, he was granted lordship of Conitz for his service. In later centuries, his descendants in Austria and Brandenburg-Prussia went on to establish a noble lineage, entitled as Freiherr and Ritter von Bethe in the Prussian and Austrian nobility.[2] The Catholic branch of the family was confirmed as ancient nobility, and elevated to the title of Reichsfreiherr, or imperial barons in 1790.[3]

Another cadet branch of the family remained in Austria-Hungary,[4] losing their title and legal status after the First World War. Most remaining members in Central Europe descend from the Prussian and Hungarian cadet branches respectively, along with the senior branch residing in the United States.

Notable people with the surname Betha or Bethe

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  • Albrecht Bethe (1872–1954), German physiologist and father of Hans Bethe
  • Erich Bethe (1863–1940), German philologist
  • Hans Bethe (1906–2005), German-American nuclear physicist
  • Kitty Cooper (born 1960), American bridge player also known as Kitty Bethe
  • Mason Betha (born 1975), American rapper known as Mase

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels Adelige Häuser B (in German) (57th Volume ed.). Limburg: Starke Verlag. 1974.
  2. ^ Kneschke, Ernst Heinrich (1859). Neues allgemeines Deutsches Adels-Lexicon (New general German Aristocracy Lexicon) (in German). Leipzig: Friedrich Voigt.
  3. ^ S., F. A.; von Wurzbach, C. (1856–1891). "Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich enthaltend die Lebensskizzen der denkwurdigen Personen die seit 1750 in den Osterreichischen Kronlandern geboren wurden oder darin gelebt und gewerkt haben" [Biographical Lexicon of the Austrian Empire from 1750]. Taxon (in German). 35 (2): 456. doi:10.2307/1221338. ISSN 0040-0262.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  4. ^ Tötösy de Zepetnek, Steven (2010). "List of Historical Surnames of the Hungarian Nobility". Clcweb Library. Purdue University Press.