Genealogy of the Rothschild family

The Rothschild family is a European family of German Jewish origin whose prominent branches became associated with banking, finance, commerce, philanthropy, landholding, and industrial investment. The family’s genealogy is commonly traced to Mayer Amschel Rothschild, born in Frankfurt in 1744. Through a combination of financial expertise, family coordination, strategic marriages, and the placement of sons in major European commercial centers, the Rothschilds developed an international network of banking houses from the late eighteenth century onward. Mayer Amschel began his career through an apprenticeship in Hanover and later returned to Frankfurt, where he joined his brother’s money-changing business. His dealings in rare coins brought him to the attention of Wilhelm IX of Hesse, for whom he became a court factor. This relationship expanded his access to banking and financial services and helped establish the Frankfurt house as a significant financial institution. Mayer Amschel married Guttle Schnapper in 1770, and they had ten children. A central feature of the family’s expansion was the deliberate distribution of business responsibilities among Mayer Amschel’s sons. His eldest son, Amschel Mayer Rothschild, remained in Frankfurt, while four younger sons were sent to establish financial operations in other European centers. Salomon Mayer von Rothschild founded the Austrian branch in Vienna; Nathan Mayer Rothschild first pursued a textile business in Manchester before moving to London and establishing N. M. Rothschild & Sons; Carl Mayer von Rothschild created C. M. de Rothschild & Figli in Naples; and James Mayer de Rothschild founded de Rothschild Frères in Paris. These houses operated within a cooperative family network involved in loans, government bonds, bullion trading, and other forms of financial intermediation. During the nineteenth century, the family’s financing supported investment connected with mining, rail transport, and other large-scale ventures that contributed to Europe’s industrial development. The family’s cross-border relationships and shared financial interests helped it become one of the most prominent banking families of the era. Endogamous marriages among branches and relatives were also used as a means of retaining capital and business control within the extended family, although the practice varied among branches and generations. The family also experienced changes in social and political status. In 1816, five members of the Austrian branch received hereditary baronies from Emperor Francis II of the Habsburg Empire. In Britain, the family entered the peerage in 1855 when Queen Victoria elevated Nathan Rothschild, the son of Lionel de Rothschild, as the first Baron Rothschild. He became the first Jewish member of the House of Lords. The genealogical record therefore connects commercial history with the changing legal, social, and political position of Jewish families in nineteenth-century Europe. The genealogy article focuses on selected prominent branches and descendants rather than presenting a complete account of every member of the family. It distinguishes the Frankfurt, Austrian, English, Neapolitan, and French banking lines and records marriages, children, titles, and relationships that linked these branches. The family’s later history extends into additional fields, including wine production, gardens, philanthropy, and public life, but the central historical theme remains the creation and interconnection of the Rothschild banking houses.

The documented genealogy begins with Mayer Amschel Rothschild, who was born in Frankfurt in 1744. At thirteen, he entered an apprenticeship with the Hanoverian banker Simon Wolf Oppenheimer. After returning to Frankfurt at nineteen, he joined his brother Calmann’s money-changing operation and developed a specialization in rare coins. His contacts with Wilhelm IX of Hesse led to his appointment as a court factor and expanded his activities from coin dealing into banking and financial services. Mayer Amschel married Guttle Schnapper in 1770. Their ten children formed the next generation of the family network. Rather than concentrating all operations in Frankfurt, Mayer Amschel encouraged his sons to establish independent but coordinated businesses in important European markets. Amschel Mayer remained in Frankfurt, while Salomon, Nathan, Carl, and James moved to Vienna, London, Naples, and Paris respectively. Salomon Mayer von Rothschild established S. M. von Rothschild in Vienna and became the founder of the Austrian banking line. Nathan Mayer Rothschild initially settled in Manchester, where he operated in the textile trade. He later moved to London and founded N. M. Rothschild & Sons. Carl Mayer von Rothschild went to Naples and established C. M. de Rothschild & Figli. James Mayer de Rothschild founded de Rothschild Frères in Paris. These houses were separate institutions, but family ties and correspondence enabled cooperation across borders. The Rothschild banking network participated in loans, sovereign and government bonds, bullion trading, and other financial activities. Its resources also supported investment in mining and railway enterprises during the nineteenth century, when industrialization was transforming European economies. The family’s ability to operate across several countries was reinforced by marriages between members of different branches and, in some cases, marriages between close relatives. Such endogamy was intended to keep wealth, ownership, and influence within the family network. The branches accumulated titles and social recognition at different times. Five members of the Austrian branch were granted hereditary baronies by Francis II in 1816. In Britain, Nathan Rothschild, son of Lionel de Rothschild, was elevated to the peerage by Queen Victoria in 1855. He became the first Jewish member of the House of Lords. These developments reflected the family’s growing economic influence and its gradual integration into European elite institutions. The genealogical record gives particular attention to the marriages and descendants of the principal banking branches. Salomon Mayer von Rothschild married Caroline Stern and had two children. Nathan Mayer Rothschild married Hannah Barent Cohen in 1806 and had seven children. Carl Mayer von Rothschild married Adelheid Herz in 1818 and had five children. James Mayer de Rothschild married Betty Salomon de Rothschild, his niece, in 1824 and had five children. The family tree also records how several descendants married within the broader Rothschild kinship network. The article is selective rather than an exhaustive register of all descendants. It presents the family’s major lines and their historical connection to European banking, while related family histories extend into philanthropy, wine production, gardening, landownership, and public affairs. Its principal significance lies in showing how one Frankfurt family developed a transnational network through migration, marriage, inheritance, and institution building.

• 1855

  Nathan Rothschild enters the British peerage

  [1]Genealogy of the Rothschild familyen.wikipedia.org

  Queen Victoria elevated Nathan Rothschild, son of Lionel de Rothschild, to the peerage. He became the first Jewish member of the House of Lords.

• 1824

  James Mayer de Rothschild marries Betty Salomon de Rothschild

  [1]Genealogy of the Rothschild familyen.wikipedia.org

  James Mayer de Rothschild married his niece Betty Salomon de Rothschild and had five children in the French branch.

• 1818

  Carl Mayer von Rothschild marries Adelheid Herz

  [1]Genealogy of the Rothschild familyen.wikipedia.org

  Carl Mayer von Rothschild married Adelheid Herz and had five children in the Neapolitan branch.

• 1816

  Austrian branch receives hereditary baronies

  [1]Genealogy of the Rothschild familyen.wikipedia.org

  Five members of the Austrian Rothschild branch were granted hereditary baronies by Emperor Francis II.

• 1806

  Nathan Mayer Rothschild marries Hannah Barent Cohen

  [1]Genealogy of the Rothschild familyen.wikipedia.org

  Nathan Mayer Rothschild married Hannah Barent Cohen in the English branch and had seven children.

• 1770

  Marriage of Mayer Amschel Rothschild and Guttle Schnapper

  [1]Genealogy of the Rothschild familyen.wikipedia.org

  Mayer Amschel married Guttle Schnapper; their ten children formed the next generation of the family network.

• 1744

  Birth of Mayer Amschel Rothschild

  [1]Genealogy of the Rothschild familyen.wikipedia.org

  Mayer Amschel Rothschild was born in Frankfurt and later became the progenitor of the principal Rothschild banking branches.

Not a commercial brand; this subject is a genealogical reference entry documenting the principal branches and historical relationships of the Rothschild family.

1. 1Genealogy of the Rothschild familyen.wikipedia.org