| Surname: | Six family |
| Type: | noble family |
| Coat Of Arms: | Six wapen 1842.svg |
| Country: | Netherlands |
| Titles: | baron for first born, Jonkheer |
| Founded: | 16th century |
| Founder: | Guillaume Six |
Six is a well-known Dutch family from Amsterdam. The family originally came from the region of Lille in the north of France.
The name Six is an abbreviation of Sixtus, a name given to the sixth child of a family.
The first known member, Guillaume Six, was a linen weaver in Armentières and Lille. His son Charles Six moved the family to Amsterdam circa 1586. Charles Six's children were:
Both branches of the family have been raised to the Dutch nobility at the rank of baron, with other members of the family carrying the honorific of Jonkheer.
(1772–1833) served as Finance Minister of the Netherlands 1814–1821. He was raised to the nobility with the title Jonkheer in 1815, and raised to the hereditary rank of baron in 1820.
(1829–1908) served as Interior Minister of the Netherlands 1879–1882.
Several family members were painted by Rembrandt. This branch of the family are the keepers of the Six Collection.
Jean Six (1575–1617) died two months before the birth of his son Jan Six (1618–1700), Mayor of Amsterdam, a writer and a notable art collector. His son (1668–1750), also Mayor of Amsterdam, bought the fiefdom of Hillegom.
Jan Six VII (1857–1926) was an art historian, and Rector of the University of Amsterdam. He opened the family art collection to the public as the Six Collection in 1922.
The present baron is Jan Six X. His son Jan Six XI is an art historian and art dealer, who identified Portrait of a Young Gentleman as by Rembrandt, the first 'new' Rembrandt identified in 44 years.[1] [2]
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