The van Lessen family is divided into three lines: the German line with the numbers 1 – 659, the Bourtange line with the numbers B 1 – B 132 and the Groningen line with the numbers G 1 – G 90.
All those bearing the name van Lessen are listed as far as they descend from number 1. So are descendants’ children as far as they assumed the name van Lessen (e.g. no. 25 or in the case of the Groningen line no. G 3).
In the case of daughters who took the name of their husband we included their children but not their grandchildren.
The different spellings of the family name (cf. no. 1 – 7 “Leßen“ ) go back to the entries in church registers.
Stillborn children were included too if they were mentioned in church registers.