Originating in the city of Tula in the 17th century, the Demidovs found success through metal products, and were entered into the European nobility by Peter the Great.

His son Nikita Demidov (March 26, 1656 – November 17, 1725) made his fortune by his skill in the manufacture of weapons, and established an iron foundry for the government.

[citation needed] Nikita's son, Akinfiy Demidov (1678–1745), increased his inherited wealth by the discovery and working of gold, silver and copper mines.

Akinfiy's nephew, Pavel Grigoryevich Demidov (1738–1821), was a great traveller and benefactor of Russian scientific education who befriended Carl Linnaeus and Pallas.

Pavel's nephew, Nikolay Nikitich Demidov, fought in the Napoleonic War with distinction, raised and commanded a regiment to oppose Napoleon's invasion of Russia, and carried on the accumulation of the family wealth from mining; he contributed liberally to the erection of four bridges in St Petersburg, and to the propagation of scientific culture in Moscow.

Nikolay's son Count Pavel Nikolayevich Demidov fought as an officer in his father's regiment and received his baptism of fire at the battle of Borodino in 1812.

His son, colonel Aleksander Nikolayevich Demidoff, 2nd Prince Lopukhin-Demidov (1870–1937), moved to Finland after the revolution, bought Anttolanhovi manor in Anttola near Mikkeli in 1917 where he lived for a while, until the inheritance was spent.

In 1798, Nikolay Nikitich Demidov was made a Family Commander of the Russian Grand Priory of the Order of Saint John, by Tsar Paul I.

l'Empereur Paul I-r Grand Maître de l'Ordre de St. Jean de Jérusalem avait été élevé le 2I Juillet 1799" - in translation; "to grant Your request and to confirm Your title of Hereditary Commander of the Union of the Descendants of the Hereditary Commanders and Knights of the Russian Grand Priory about St John of Jerusalem as a direct descendant of Demidoff Nicholas son of Nicétas which, by grace of My great-great-grandfather, H.M. the Emperor Paul I Grand Master of the Order of St John of Jerusalem had been elevated 21 July 1799".