Heritage

The Žert family has deep European roots reaching back to the 12th century.
Our earliest known ancestors came from what is now the Netherlands, where they worked as specialists in drainage and water management. Their expertise led them east to Brandenburg, then to the town of Zerbst in present-day Germany. It was there that the family name Zert (from Zerbst) first appeared in written records, describing a respected family active in local development and community life.

In 1200, Richard Zert built a hospital on his own land, which his widow Ida and their sons later turned into a Benedictine convent, confirmed in 1213 by Bishop Baldwin of Brandenburg. The family received hereditary rights from King William, and in 1457 one of Richard's descendants, Albrecht Zert, acquired several estates from the princes of Anhalt.

During the 15th century, one branch of the family moved south — first to Saxony, then to Bohemia — settling in the Jičín region through the purchase of local estates. In 1577, Emperor Rudolf II granted the family an official coat of arms, recognizing their status and contribution.

Nearly a century later, in 1671, Jan Žert bought land in Bříství near Kolín, where he founded the Bohemian line of the family. Since then, eleven generations of Žerts have lived and worked there, maintaining a strong link to the land through farming — especially orchards of apples, pears, and strawberries.

Over the centuries, the family witnessed both progress and hardship. In 1744, Adam Žert was tragically killed in his own home during the turbulent wars of the 18th century. The Battle of Kolín (1757) unfolded just nearby, leaving the region deeply scarred. Later, during World War II, Karel Žert, an eighth-generation descendant, became part of the Czech resistance movement known as Balabán–Mašín–Morávek, while the Bříství farm served as a support site for Allied paratroopers.

In 1997, the family's descendants were traced across Europe, the Americas, and Australia, counting nearly 500 living members. A year later, 180 relatives met for a reunion in Bříství — proof that even after eight centuries, the family line still holds together.

Today, the Žert family continues to live and work in Bříství, keeping alive a tradition that began more than 850 years ago — a story of land, continuity, and quiet perseverance.