The name Six is an abbreviation of Sixtus, a name given to the sixth child of a family. The first known member, Guillaume Six, was a linen weaver in
Armentières and
Lille. His son Charles Six moved the family to
Amsterdam circa 1586. Charles Six's children were: • Guillaume Six (1563–1619), ancestor of the
Six van Oterleek branch of the family • Chrétienne Six (1566–1645), married
Nicolaus Mulerius (1564–1630), medic and astronomer • Jean Six (1575–1617), ancestor of the
Six van Hillegom branch of the family Both branches of the family have been raised to the Dutch nobility at the rank of
baron, with other members of the family carrying the honorific of
Jonkheer.
Six van Oterleek (1772–1833) served as Finance Minister of the Netherlands 1814–1821. He was raised to the nobility with the title Jonkheer in 1815, and raised to the hereditary rank of baron in 1820. (1829–1908) served as Interior Minister of the Netherlands 1879–1882.
Six van Hillegom Several family members were painted by
Rembrandt. This branch of the family are the keepers of the Six Collection. Jean Six (1575–1617) died two months before the birth of his son
Jan Six (1618–1700), Mayor of Amsterdam, a writer and a notable art collector. His son (1668–1750), also Mayor of Amsterdam, bought the
fiefdom of
Hillegom.
Jan Six VII (1857–1926) was an art historian, and Rector of the University of Amsterdam. He opened the family art collection to the public as the Six Collection in 1922. The present baron is Jan Six X. His son
Jan Six XI is an art historian and art dealer, who identified
Portrait of a Young Gentleman as by
Rembrandt, the first 'new' Rembrandt identified in 44 years. ==Famous members==