The oldest known family members is one Christoffel Johannszn.

Alberding who lived in Langendahl in Hessen during the first half of the 17th century.

His great-grandson Jonas Alberding converted to Roman Catholicism.

His son, Johannes Heinrich Alberding (1719–1781) was a cooper and moved to Amsterdam.

His grandson Johannes Heinrich, Joannes Franciscus Alberdingk Thijm (1788–1858), married in 1819 Catharina Thijm (1793–1864); in 1834, through a royal decree he was given the permission to carry the name Alberdingk Thijm.