The Banffy family is an ancient Hungarian noble family, whose members occupied prominent positions in the

Kingdom of Hungary The Kingdom of Hungary was a monarchy in Central Europe that existed for nearly a millennium, from 1000 to 1946 and was a key part of the Habsburg monarchy from 1526-1918. The Principality of Hungary emerged as a Christian kingdom upon the Coro ...

and later within the

Austro-Hungarian Empire Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military and diplomatic alliance, it consist ...

. Across different branches, the family was elevated to

baronial Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knight ...

rank in 1729 and to

comital Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

rank in 1855.

History

The origins of the Bánffy family trace back to the gens Tomaj, one of the ancient Hungarian

clans A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, a clan may claim descent from a founding member or apical ancestor who serves as a symbol of the clan's unity. Many societie ...

. The first known to be important member of the family was Dénes Tomaj. His son, Dénes Losonczi, active in the 13th century, became the founder of the Losonczi branch. A subsequent descendant, ''László de Losoncz'' (1368–1427), established a separate lineage, which from the 14th century onward bore the name ''Bánffy de Losoncz''. Throughout the medieval and early modern periods, the Bánffy family was closely connected to the political elite of Hungary. They intermarried with other influential noble families and held high offices within the royal court, regional administration, and military. The family was granted the title of

Baron Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often Hereditary title, hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than ...

in 1729 by

Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI (; ; 1 October 1685 – 20 October 1740) was Holy Roman Emperor and ruler of the Austrian Habsburg monarchy from 1711 until his death, succeeding his elder brother, Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor, Joseph I. He unsuccessfully War of ...

. On 20 May 1855, the senior branch was elevated to the rank of

Count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

in the

Austrian Empire The Austrian Empire, officially known as the Empire of Austria, was a Multinational state, multinational European Great Powers, great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the Habsburg monarchy, realms of the Habsburgs. Duri ...

by Emperor Franz Joseph I. The comital title was hereditary and passed through the legitimate male line. Members of the family played notable roles in Hungarian and Austro-Hungarian history, particularly in

Transylvania Transylvania ( or ; ; or ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Siweberjen'') is a List of historical regions of Central Europe, historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and ...

, where the Bánffys held significant estates and served in high-ranking administrative positions, including that of Governor of Transylvania.

Notable members

* Katalin Bánffy, 16th-century Hungarian noblewoman * Dezső Bánffy (1843–1911), Hungarian politician * Miklós Bánffy (1873–1950), Hungarian nobleman, politician, and novelist * Eszter Bánffy (born 1957), Hungarian prehistorian, archaeologist, and academic

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Banffy Hungarian-language surnames