Von dem Berge was a German noble family from the Principality of Lüneburg in present-day Lower Saxony, Germany. The family held various estates across northern Germany until its extinction in the early 17th century.
History.
The name von dem Berge, when translated literally from German means "of the mountain". In the context of historical German naming conventions, the inclusion of the dative proposition "von", which can imply both origin and possession, would be the primary indicator of noble status.
While the exact date and circumstances of their investiture is unknown, documentary evidence of their noble status extends as far back as the 13th century. The family was previously believed to have consisted of two separate branches: the main branch "von dem Berge" and the cadet branch "de Monte." However, archival and diplomatic evidence shows these were in fact one and the same lineage. The name appeared as "de Monte" in Latin documents and "von dem Berge" in German ones, suggesting that the former was merely an exonym of the latter.
More than thirty family members are known to have held the hereditary titles of "Erbschenk" (hereditary cup-bearer) and "Erbküchenmeister" (hereditary kitchen master) at the princely court of Lüneburg.
Extinction of the line.
The male line of the family ended with the death of Fritz von dem Berge in 1623. His estates were inherited by descendants of the Maltzahn family through his sister, Ilse von dem Berge, who had married Dietrich III von Maltzahn (1552–1599) auf Ulrichshausen aus Grubenhagen.
Properties.
The von dem Berge family held several properties, including:
Heraldry.
The von dem Berge coat of arms is typically described as follows:
The exact design of their full coat of arms is lost, but versions can still be seen on Fritz von dem Berge's gravestone in Hittfeld and on the pulpits of St Martin's Church in Breselenz and the Church of St Jacobi in Bleckede. In all three places four pointed beams are counted.