The earliest known member of the family is Everwin von Götterswick/Güterswyk, c. 1200, supposedly the descendent of a knight named Godert who had settled on the lower Rhine near Wesel.[1]
The counts of Bentheim-Tecklenburg-Rheda came into being in the 19th century following the morganatic marriage of a prince of Bentheim-Tecklenburg; the King of Bavaria granted their issue the title of counts.[8]
Both princely branches still own numerous historical family properties, including Bentheim Castle, many of which are open to the public.[9][10]
^Rudolf Rübel. 'Graf Arnold von Bentheim-Steinfurt 1554–1606'. In Westfälische Lebensbilder 9 (1962): 18–33.
^Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser XIX. "Bentheim". C.A. Starke Verlag, 2011.
^Gothaisches Genealogisches Handbuch: Fürstliche Häuser GGH 7 – Bentheim, II. Linie: Bentheim und Steinfurt, Verlag des Deutschen Adelsarchivs. Marburg, 2018.
^Carl Heiner Beusch. 'Westfälische Standesherren. Die Fürsten von Bentheim-Tecklenburg im 19. Jahrhundert.' In Westfälische Zeitschrift 145 (1995): 257–330.