Linnigh (Linnich) was a Mennonite family, apparently originally from Linnich on the Ruhr, duchy of Jülich, Germany, where Mennonites were found as early as 1551. The Linnigh family lived in Amsterdam from the early 17th century, engaged in business, and were members and sometimes deacons of the Waterlander congregation. Jacob Linnigh was a preacher of the Amsterdam Waterlander, later of the united Waterlander and Lamist congregation from 1661 until he resigned in 1684. A branch of this family is found in Eiderstedt and Hamburg, Germany. Andreas Linnich was a brewer at Eiderstedt about 1650. He may have been identical with Andreas Linnich, who about 1640 moved from Rade near Düsseldorf, Germany, to Friedrichstadt. Jacob Linnich, probably a son of Andreas, was a merchant at Hamburg, where he and his descendants served the Mennonite congregation as deacons.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, p. 351. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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