The first known ancestor of the Kisjeszen (Minor Jeszen) family was the castle warrior András Temérdek who received lands in Turóc County (Slovak: Turiec) from king Béla IV of Hungary in 1255.

[2] In 1278 Mágya received his noble title, because of his valor in the Battle on the Marchfeld.

Subsequently, all Jesenský property was confiscated by the advancing Ottomans, so brothers Melchior, Lorenz and Balthasar Jesenský moved to Silesia (then part of the Crown of Bohemia) and lived in Wrocław and Świdnica from 1541 onward.

Balthasar's son was Ján Jesenský, known as Jan Jesenius, famous scientist and politician who lived and died in Prague, Bohemia.

Branches of the families are still living in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, United States and England.