The family was first recorded in September 1303 when its progenitor knight Heinrich genannt Flecke von Nesselrode was mentioned as feudal lord of Deutz Abbey.

His son, Count Johann Franz von Nesselrode-Landscron (1671–1751), served as Imperial Generalfeldzeugmeister.

Their possessions were inherited by the Counts Droste zu Vischering, who incorporated the Nesselrode coat of arms into their own, as the heir of the last reigning Count, Johann Franz Joseph, was his eldest surviving daughter, Countess Maria Karoline Theresia Josepha von Nesselrode-Reichenstein, who became Countess Droste zu Vischering (1779–1858).

Count Wilhelm Karl von Nesselrode-Ehreshoven (1724–1810) served as the Ambassador of Catherine the Great to Portugal.

His son, Count Karl Robert von Nesselrode-Ehreshoven (1780–1862), served as Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1814 to 1856, while his son, Count Dimitri von Nesselrode-Ehreshoven (1816–1906), served in the Russian State Duma and held the position of Oberhofmeister at Imperial Court of Russia.