* denotes new listing

26. Tissiman & Sons Ltd.
Tailors, outfitters/Bishop’s Stortford, United Kingdom
Founded: 1601
www.tissimans.co.uk
Established as a tailor, draper and undertaker, Tissiman & Sons Ltd. now offers formal and casual clothes and shoes. The original building in Bishop’s Stortford (which dates from about 1360) is still in use.

27. Enshu Sado School
Ceremonial tea school/Tokyo, Japan
Founded: c. 1602
www.enshuryu.com
Lord Enshu Kobori (1579-1647), official tea instructor for Japan’s second and third shogun, established the school and built the famous Nagoya and Osaka castles. Enshu Sado School has thrived for 400 years, imparting the traditional Sado tea ceremony and its culture. In 2001, at age 44, current grand master Sojitsu Kobori succeeded his father. He oversees a staff of 20 with 30,000 practitioners, 53 local chapters in Japan, international chapters in Holland and Korea and a school in Singapore. Each morning, he goes to the school’s ancestor room to pay his respects to his forebears.

* 28. Hacienda Alhué
Vineyard/Oficina Providencia, Chile
Founded: 1603
www.haciendaalhue.cl
Don Tomas de Toro y Zambrano, one of the first conquerers of the Alhue region of Chile, settled this land. His family continues to own and operate the vineyard, producing two wines: Hacienda Alhué and La Conquistadora. A famous family member is the “Conde de la Conquista,” Don Mateo de Toro y Zambrano, president of Chile’s first national assembly.

29. Takenaka
Construction/Osaka, Japan
Founded: 1610
www.takenaka.co.jp
Shrine and temple carpenter Tobei Masataka established Takenaka in Nagoya and constructed some of the first Western-style buildings in Japan, including the Nagoya Army Camp and the Mitsui Spinning Mill. In 1899, Toemon Takenaka, 14th-generation descendant of Tobei, built Mitsui Onohama Warehouse. Takenaka has built office buildings for some of Japan’s major corporations, such as Mitsui Bank and Nippon Life Insurance. The family company has won many awards for design, technique and quality. Toichi Takenaka is president and CEO. Annual revenue is approximately $9 billion.

30. Mellerio dits Meller
Jewelry/Paris, France
Founded: 1613
www.mellerio.fr
In the 16th century, members of the Mellerio family from Lombardy, Italy, handcrafted jewelry seasonally in France. The family became a royal favorite when it helped foil an attempted assassination of King Louis XIII. Located near the Place Vendôme in Paris, Mellerio produces fine jewelry and designs and creates French Open tennis championship trophies.

31. Cartiera Mantovana Corp.
Paper/Mantua, Italy
Founded: 1615
www.cartieramantovana.it
The Marenghi family members are descendants of Riccio da Parma (a knight famous for his battles in the early 1500s). On July 1, 1615, the Duke of Mantua granted the family the privilege to make and sell paper. Cristina Marenghi and her sons Marcofabio, Alberto and Vittorio run the company.

32. Avedis Zildjian Co.
Cymbals/Norwell, Mass.
Founded: 1623
www.zildjian.com
Zildjian was founded 14 generations ago in Constantinople by an alchemist named Avedis I, who discovered an extremely musical metal alloy to create powerful, durable cymbals. The sultan named him “Zildjian,” Armenian for “cymbalsmith.” The family arrived in the U.S. in 1929, in time for Avedis Zildjian III to establish ties with hot, rising jazz drummers. His son Armand (1921-2002) created the company’s modern factory. Today his daughters Craigie (CEO) and Debbie (VP/human resources) are Zildjian’s first women chiefs in its long history.

33. (tie) Akerblads
Hotel/Tällberg, Sweden
Founded: 1630
www.akerblads-tallberg.se
Åkerblads Hotel and Country Inn, also called Gatugården Tällberg, is the oldest farm in Tällberg village. Until the 20th century, the residents of Gatugården farmed and arranged parties, weddings and funerals on the side. In 1910, the family began a private hotel business. In 1903, when a son, who had recently inherited the farm, died on his 34th birthday, the other siblings drew lots to decide who should inherit the farm. It fell to Gatu Kersti Olsdotter, who had married an Åkerblad. Today, members of the 19th through 21st generations of the Akerblad family run the hotel in Tällberg. Over the years, the family has remodeled and expanded the property, but it still conveys a 17th-century atmosphere.

33. (tie) Kikkoman
Soy sauce/Noda, Japan
Founded: 1630
www.kikkoman.com
In the 16th century, Shige Maki escaped to Noda, Japan, after her husband’s military defeat and death at the Osaka castle. There, she established a small business making what was to become soy sauce. The family business became a unified company in 1917 when eight branches of the Mogi family merged their companies together. The company has grown into the world’s largest producer of soy sauce products. Yuzaburo Mogi (pictured) is chairman and CEO.

33. (tie) Sumitomo Corp.
Conglomerate/Tokyo, Japan
Founded: 1630
www.sumitomocorp.co.jp
In the 17th century Masatomo Sumitomo opened a medicine and book shop in Kyoto. As time went on, various members of the family added to the conglomerate. Today, Sumitomo Group’s core is 20 companies specializing in banking, shipbuilding, mining, glass production, electronics, cement, lumber and chemicals. The current president and CEO is Motoyuki Oka.

36. Tuttle Farm
Agriculture/Dover, N.H.
Founded: 1635-38?
www.tuttlefarm.com
In 1635, founder John Tuttle settled in Dover with his wife and four-year-old daughter after surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Maine on his way from England. His 240-acre farm grows vegetables, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and black raspberries and operates a retail shop on site. Twelfth-generation member Evan Hourihan, who is in his 20s, has expressed interest in the family farm.

37. Gekkeikan Sake Company Ltd.
Sake/Fushimi, Japan
Founded: 1637
www.gekkeikan.co.jp
Jiemon Okura established the company in Fushimi, known for its delicious water. Originally, Okura named the sake Tama-no-Izumi, jewel of the fountain. In 1905, Gekkeikan, crown of laurel, a symbol of victory and merit, was selected as the new brand name. The Japanese Imperial household appointed Gekkeikan its official supplier. Currently, the business makes more than 170 different products and exports to more than 60 countries. The current president is Haruhiko Okura.

38. Shirley Plantation
Historical site/Charles City, Va.
Founded: 1638
www.shirleyplantation.com
Sir Thomas West settled Virginia’s oldest plantation in 1613 on the James River between Richmond and Williamsburg. Shirley Plantation operated as tobacco and grain farm from 1613 to 1952. Edward Hill acquired the plantation in 1638. In 1723, his great-granddaughter Elizabeth Hill married John Carter, whose descendants have managed it ever since. Tenth-generation member Charles Hill Carter Jr. and wife converted the plantation to a tourist attraction in 1952. In 1998, the family began hosting weddings and corporate events under the Carters’ children, 11th-generation operators.

39. Hugel et Fils
Wine/Riquewihr, France
Founded: 1639
www.hugel.com
The Hugel family’s roots in the war-torn Alsace-Lorraine region of France reach back to the 15th century. In 1639 the family began to make wine in the town of Riquewihr. After 1918, Frédéric Emile Hugel was among the Alsatian winegrowers who helped save the region’s vineyards. His son Jean and later Jean’s sons Georges, Jean and André succeeded. Next-generation family leaders are Jean-Philippe, Marc and Etienne. The wines today are exported to more than 100 countries.

40. Barker Farm
Agriculture/North Andover, Mass.
Founded: 1642
In 1642, Richard Barker founded his family’s farm, now run by the tenth generation of Barkers. Visitors can pick apples and flowers in season.

* 41. Jean Roze
Silk upholstery fabrics/Saint-Avertin, France
Founded: 1650
www.henokiens.com/index_roze_gb.php
Jehan Baptiste Roze, son of a manufacturing merchant, established himself at Oulchy le Château in Picardy. There, he secured the title of “master manufacturing merchant of gold, silver and silk fabrics,” became a king’s counselor, and rose to the rank of count. In order to survive the French Revolution, Jacques Alexandre Roze-Abraham designed new articles, woolen carpets and covers. In the mid-1800s, the company began to specialize in silk fabrics designed for upholstery. Today, Jean Roze is managed by 12th-generation member Antoinette Roze.

42. Ulefos Jernvaerk
Metals, milling, forestry/Telemark, Norway
Founded: 1657
www.ulefosnv.com
On Aug, 8, 1657, King Fredrik III gave a royal decree allowing the Cappelen family to begin the company’s operations. The family has become involved in many different businesses over the years: owning ships, trading, and producing stoves and manhole covers. Currently, the company is Norway’s market leader in manhole covers, which account for 70% of the family’s business. Ulefos Jernvaerk is owned 100% by the Cappelen family holding company.

* 43. Petit & Fritsen B.V.
Bell foundry/Aarle-Rixtel, Netherlands
Founded: 1660
www.petit-fritsen.nl
Nicolas Jullien, who had established a bell foundry in Weert, taught the trade to his nephews Jean and Joseph Petit. Joseph’s son Alexius moved to Aarle-Rixtel in 1720 with his three sons, Henricus, Everardus and Alexius Jr. Joseph’s daughter Aldegonda married Izaac Fritsen. Henricus was the last Petit to stop bell casting, in 1815. The foundry, renamed Petit and Fritsen, was continued by Henricus Fritsen, the son of Aldegonda Petit and Izaac Fritsen. It has been in its current location since 1907. The current CEO is Frank Fritsen.

44. Van Eeghen Group
Trading company/Amsterdam, Netherlands
Founded: 1662
www.vaneeghen.com
Sometime around 1633 in Aardenburg (present Flanders, Belgium), Christiaen Van Eeghen established himself as a cloth merchant. In 1662 his son Jacob van Eeghen founded Van Eeghen & Co. in Amsterdam, where the business remains. Subsequent generations launched sailing ships to spread their markets along historic spice routes to British colonies and the Far East. Today Van Eeghen continues its involvement with world trade but specializes in food products.

45. Friedr. Schwarze GmbH & Co.
Distillery/Oelde, Germany
Founded: 1664
www.schwarze-schlichte.de
Jan Swarte (the surname was later changed to Schwarze) began the family business in Westphalia, where he farmed and distilled. Four generations later, Hermann Josef Schwarze bought a house at Herrenstrasse. This house serves as the company’s headquarters. The Schwarze Group acquired the Schlichte brands in the 1990s.

46. The Seaside Inn and Cottages
Innkeeping/Kennebunkport, Maine
Founded: 1667
www.kennebunkbeach.com
In the 1640s, John Gooch arrived in Maine at the request of Fernando Gorges, agent for King Charles II. Gooch was asked to reside on the oceanfront peninsula at the mouth of the Kennebunk River to ferry travelers across. Travelers often stayed a night or two, so Gooch provided rooms and operated a tavern. The inn is now owned by 12th-generation member Patricia and her husband, Ken Mason.

* 47. Merck KGaA
Pharmaceuticals, chemicals/Darmstadt, Germany
Founded: 1668
www.merck.de
In 1668, Friedrich Jacob Merck purchased what was later called the “Engel-Apotheke” (Angel Pharmacy). In 1827, Heinrich Emanuel Merck initiated the move to industrial production. By 1900, Merck was represented on all continents. The company went public in 1995. Merck operates in the pharmaceuticals and chemicals sectors, with 246 companies in 62 countries. The Merck family owns approximately 70% of Merck KGaA.

* 48. Okaya & Co. Ltd.
Global trading company/Nagoya, Japan
Founded: 1669
www.okaya.co.jp
Sosuke Okaya founded a hardware store in Nagoya that evolved into a global trading company. Today Okaya is engaged in a broad range of businesses including domestic and overseas transactions in iron and steel, metals, machinery, tools, electronics, chemicals, foods and other products. Tokuichi Okaya is the president.

* 49. Perner Bell Foundry
Bell foundry/Passau, Germany
Founded: 1670
www.glocke.com
The Perner family has been making bells in southern Germany and Bohemia since at least 1670. Today, the company serves the international market and specializes in bells, art castings, ringing equipment, belfries, tower clocks and service. Rudolf Perner heads the company.

50. C. Hoare & Co.
Banking/London, United Kingdom
Founded: 1672
www.hoaresbank.co.uk
The Hoare bank in London is the last survivor of English private deposit banks established in the 17th and 18th centuries. The bank was founded by Richard Hoare and is now run by members of the 10th and 11th generations. The family’s pride in close customer relationships and meticulous service has attracted famous customers, including Samuel Pepys, Queen Charlotte, furniture makers Thomas Chippendale & Son, Lord Byron, Jane Austen and various prime ministers.

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