Origin and Spread

The documented lineage of the family begins with Johann von Hoynge(n), also known as Hu(e)ne, who is recorded in 1500 and 1501 as being enfeoffed with lands in Courland. His great-grandson Barthold stated in 1620, upon entry into the first class of the Courland Knighthood, that Johann’s father, Jo(b)st, had come from Germany and settled in the Diocese of Dorpat.

The appearance of Henricus de Hoyngen as a juror in Bonn in 1447, bearing a seal with three rings in the coat of arms, likely linked to Johann von Hoingen, a juror in Ahrweiler recorded between 1351 and 1383, suggests the family’s origin from the namesake town of Hönningen in Rheinland, due to the similarity in name and heraldry.

Siegel des Henricus de Hoyngen von 1447: 3 Ringe, 1 zu 2 gesetzt — Seal of Henricus von Hoyngen, dated May 2, 1447, juror in Bonn, Electoral Cologne bailiff of the Bonn judicial court
(Signature: Historical Archive of the City of Cologne, Mariengraden U 1/231)

Since the family’s entry into the Courland Knighthood in 1620, they have expanded significantly throughout the Baltic region.

Martin, a brother of Barthold, whose heraldic genealogy was painted in 1646 based on documents presented to the Courland Knighthood in 1620, moved to Estonia. His great-grandson Karl Friedrich (1698–1779) of Heimar and Addila was admitted to the Estonian Knighthood in 1729 and registered in its matriculation records in 1746. Karl Friedrich’s grandson, Eduard (1779–1851) of Kadvel, was enrolled in the Oesel Knighthood in 1808. When Eduard’s grandsons, Ernst (1872–1946) and Emil (1876–1919), moved to Livonia due to their marriages, establishing the estates of Alt-Ottenhof and Rawlitz, their descent from the aforementioned Karl Friedrich was entered into the matriculation of the Livonian Knighthood in 1905, based on their affiliation with the Estonian Knighthood.

Otto Eberhard (1730–1788) of Lechts, a descendant of Christoph, Martin’s brother, was enrolled in the Estonian Knighthood around 1780. He is the progenitor of the branches at Matzal, Echmes, and Paulsruhe. His son Hermann (1772–1845) joined the Livonian Knighthood in 1818, founding the branches at Nawwast and Lelle. Otto Eberhard’s great-grandson Friedrich (1843–1921) of Lechts was enrolled in the Livonian Knighthood in 1898.

Übersichtskarte der Huene'schen Güter im Baltikum — Overview Map of the Manor Houses once owned by a Huene family member

During the period after World War I and up to the end of World War II, nearly all family members emigrated from the Baltic region. Most returned to Germany, while others moved to the United States and Canada.