Early known members of the family include Henning Kossebu, a diplomat in Stendal in the Altmark, and Arnd Cassebu, a councillor in Salzwedel.
His son Johann (1591–1629) was a Lutheran theologian, rector in Quedlinburg and minister in St. Jakob's church de in Magdeburg.
August von Kotzebue worked as a consul general in Russia and Germany, and almost all his descendants entered Russian service.
August von Kotzebue married three times and had a total of 18 children, of whom 1 son and 3 daughters died during childhood.
Crest: over the crown a white-bearded monk standing in a brown robe, holding a scourge in his raised right hand.