The Barons van Boetzelaar ...

Published: 6 October, 2022 | CTvW

Interestingly the firstname Wessel is already in use in Germany in the 12th century, famously seen in the Boetzelaar (also spelled Boetselaar) family from Kleef in Nordrhein-Westfalen (castle Boetzelaar) starting with baron Wessel I von Botzlar (approx 1180 - approx 1260), heer van Boetzelaar. This name comes back frequently in the sequence of lords of Boetzelaar:

Rutger I, Wessel II (1253-1316)
Rutger II, Wessel III (1302-1356)
Rutger III, Wessel IV (approx 1370 - approx 1439)
Rutger IV, Wessel V (approx 1437-1492; now van den Boetzelaar, born in Asperen, Gelderland and now also lord of Langerak and Asperen)
Rutger IV, Wessel VI (approx 1500-1575)
Rutger V, Wessel VII (approx 1500-1575)
Rutger VI, Rutger Wessel VII (1566-1632)

This shows great inventiveness in the names given to the heirs. After Wessel VII the sequence becomes less reqular. The Barons van Boetselaar were perhaps mistakenly interpreted as a line of Barons (van) Wessel, but this is largely conjecture.

More recently we see a Mr Rutger Wessel baron van Boetzelaer (1914-1999), a politician. His son is called Marnix Wessel baron van Boetzelaer (1944-2018).

Note: There is a 1356 reference to a "Wessel van Buijtselaer" in the Barneveld area in the Barneveld Chronicles. This may refer to Rutger II, Wessel III (1302-1356). The chronical does not mention an event, perhaps it was related to his death.

Further information about van Boetzelaar is available on Wikipedia (Dutch) and the Utrechts Archief (Dutch).