Draft:De la Motte



de la Motte is a Swedish noble family of French origin. It descends from the French nobleman Samson de la Motte who was a Swedish Major General in the Swedish army. His sons were like Samson officers – among them Carl de la Motte who on behalf of the de la Motte family was naturalized and introduced at the House of Nobility in 1642.

Most of the de la Motte family was active in the military and lived in Finland. After Finland was separated from Sweden the family was introduced at the Finnish House of Nobility in 1818 – the family therefore became extinct in Sweden. In Finland, the family went instinct on the male side 1886 and 1936 (after) on the female side.

The meaning of the word motte refers to a defensive structure on an artificial hill, a so-called Motte-and-bailey castle.