Koskull family

Koskull
Imperial Comital family
Coat of arms of Swedish branch
Parent familyCaupo of Turaida
CountryHistorical:
Current regionSweden, Russia, Poland, Latvia, Germany, Finland, Estonia, Denmark.
Earlier spellingsKoskele
Place of originLivonia
Founded1302
FounderAndreas de Koskele
Current headJohan Koskull (1938)
Style(s)His/Her Illustrious Highness
Connected familiesLieven
Cadet branchesPahlen

The Koskull family (Latvian: Koskuli, Russian: Коскуль), also written as Koschkull, is a wealthy aristocratic family of Livonian and German origin, famous for their extensive lands and manors. The family is descended from the first King of Livonia and officially established in Livonia as Koskele in 1302. The family spread to Estonia, Courland and Poland in the 15th century, Sweden and Finland in the 17th century, and Prussia and Russia in the 18th century. Several branches of the family still exist today. The Koskulls are believed to be related to the von der Pahlen family.

The Koskulls were enrolled in the Livonian Knighthood in 1742, in the Estonian Knighthood in 1777, and in the Courland Knighthood in 1841. In 1834, the family was granted a baron rank in Prussia. The title of imperial count was bestowed upon the family in 1805 by Francis II, and in 1898, members of the family also became counts in Imperial Russia. In Sweden, the family was granted noble status in 1638, and two branches were uplifted to baron status in 1719 and 1720. The title of imperial count was later transferred by decree to a Swedish branch of the family. Currently, the Swedish branch owns 20,000 hectares across the United Kingdom and an estate of 6,000 hectares in Sweden, called Engaholm. The family's combined net worth is estimated to be $1.6 billion.[citation needed]