William Donner Roosevelt

The Roosevelt family is an American political family originating from New York, with members who have held various roles including two U.S. Presidents, a First Lady, and numerous merchants, bankers, politicians, inventors, clergymen, artists, and socialites. The family's origins trace back to Claes Maartenszen van Rosenvelt, a Dutch immigrant born circa 1626, who arrived in New Amsterdam (present-day New York City) between 1638 and 1649. Around 1652, Claes van Rosenvelt purchased a farm in what is now Midtown Manhattan, covering an area approximately between today’s Lexington Avenue and Fifth Avenue, and bounded by 29th and 35th Streets. This property included the site of the modern Empire State Building.

Claes' descendants adopted the surname Roosevelt, with his son Nicholas being the first to use this spelling and to hold political office as an alderman. His sons Johannes and Jacobus became the progenitors of two principal branches of the family: the Oyster Bay and Hyde Park branches. By the late 19th century, the Hyde Park Roosevelts were generally aligned with the Democratic Party, while the Oyster Bay Roosevelts predominantly belonged to the Republican Party. Theodore Roosevelt, of the Oyster Bay branch, served as the 26th President of the United States from 1901 to 1909 and was the uncle of Eleanor Roosevelt, who was married to Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President serving from 1933 to 1945. Despite differing political affiliations and active campaigning against each other within the family, the branches maintained generally friendly relations.

The family has a notable heraldic tradition, with coats of arms featuring roses, which relate to the meaning of the surname “Rosenvelt,” translating to “rose field.” The Van Roosevelt coat of arms from Zeeland includes a green top division with three white roses and a bottom gold section with a red lion. Franklin D. Roosevelt modified his personal coat of arms, replacing the rosebush with three crossed roses on stems.

Throughout history, members of the Roosevelt family have been involved in various businesses. These include controlling interests in companies such as the Bank of New York, Chemical Bank, Roosevelt Automobile Company, Roosevelt China Investments Corporation, Roosevelt & Cross, Roosevelt Investment Group, Roosevelt, Joyce & Company, Roosevelt Organ Works, and several others. The family has also contributed to charitable, cultural, and social organizations, including the American Museum of Natural History, Boone and Crockett Club, Children's Aid Society, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Roosevelt Hospital, Roosevelt Institute, and others.

The Roosevelt family is one of four families to have produced two U.S. Presidents sharing the same surname, others being the Adams, Bush, and Harrison families. Their historical prominence is documented in multiple biographies and studies, including William T. Cobb’s "The Strenuous Life," Peter Collier and David Horowitz’s "The Roosevelts: An American Saga," and others. Further resources include interviews and documentaries exploring the family's history and impact.