Over the past five centuries, different branches bore noble titles and had estates on the territories of the modern-day states of Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Austria.

Merode is located in the vicinity of the city of Düren, which lies between Aachen and Köln and was once part of the Duchy of Jülich.

From the 14th century onwards, a branch of the Merode family gained power and possessions in the Duchy of Brabant and the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, on the territory of present-day Belgium.

[1] The marriage of Richard de Merode with Margareth van Wezemaal marked a new age in the family's history.

Due to this marriage, the house of Merode inherited important seigniories in Brabant, such as Westerloo and the County of Olen.

Jean I de Merode married Adelheid van Hoorn in 1451 and brought Gheel, Diepenbeek and Duffel into the possession of the family.

After his death in 1551 his heirs ordered a monumental sepulchre for him and his wife that was made by the Antwerp sculptor Cornelis Floris.

In 1626, the title of Marquis of Westerloo was granted to Philippe I de Merode by King Philip IV of Spain.

Charles-Guillaume-Ghislain de Merode-Westerloo had been active as a minister under Austrian rule since 1787 and would hold several other important political posts under successive regimes, such as mayor of Brussels in 1805, and senator of the French Empire in 1809.

His sons, Henri, Félix, Frédéric and Werner would play an important role in the Belgian revolution and in the political life of the Kingdom of Belgium.

After the first Belgian legislative elections, Henri de Merode became a senator, while his brothers Félix and Werner both became members of parliament.