The Jeszenszky family 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.
The first known ancestor of the Kisjeszen (Minor Jeszen) family was the castle warrior András Temérdek who received lands in Turóc County (Slovak: Turiec) 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).[1] [2] In the 14th century the family used the "Kisjeszeni" ("de Kisjeszen") name form and the Slovak variant of their name "Jeszenszky" came into use from the 15th century.[2]
The first known member of the Nagyjeszen (Major Jeszen) family was called Mágya. In 1278 Mágya received his noble title, because of his valor in the Battle on the Marchfeld.
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 families are still living in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, United States and England.
Important family members: