The Von Galen family is an old, noble, Westphalian family, historically Roman Catholic, from the County of Mark.
The earliest von Galens appeared in the twelfth century. Some branches of the family spread to East Prussia through the crusades and military expeditions of the Teutonic Order during the high and late Middle Ages. The German branches still in existence hold the titles of Freiherr (baron) and Graf (count).