What is "oxenstierna"

Oxenstierna is an ancient Swedish noble family, originally from Småland in southern Sweden, and can be traced up to the middle of the 14th century. The Oxenstierna family held vast estates in Södermanland and Uppland during the late middle ages and renaissance. In the 15th century, the family at times held the position of Regent of Sweden during the turbulent civil wars of the Kalmar Union. The family began to adopt its armorial designation of Oxenstierna as a personal name towards the end of the 16th century. In the case of earlier members of the family, the name has been applied by later historians.

Several members of the family, notably the influential Lord High Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna, rose to prominence, high political office and titles during the age of the Swedish Empire in the 17th century. The only male-line branch still in existence today is Oxenstierna af Korsholm och Wasa, the comital branch descended from Gabriel Bengtsson Oxenstierna, 1st Count of Korsholm and Vasa (1586–1656). Other branches of the family, such as Oxenstierna af Croneborg, Oxenstierna af Eka och Lindö, and Oxenstierna af Södermöre, are now extinct in the male line.