List of Sauerland personalities
The list of Sauerland personalities includes those personalities who were born in the Sauerland or were or are active there. The definition of the region in the article Sauerland is used for regional delimitation . Thereafter, the districts of Olpe , Hochsauerlandkreis , Märkischer Kreis and some southern parts of the Soest district as well as the area around Willingen (Upland) belong to the Sauerland . Only people for whom an article is already available in Wikipedia are included.
Separate lists of personalities have been created for some cities in the Sauerland:
- Arnsberg - List of personalities of the city of Arnsberg
- Brilon - List of Mayors of the City of Brilon
- Hemer - List of personalities from the city of Hemer
- Iserlohn - personalities of the city of Iserlohn
- Lennestadt - List of personalities of the city of Lennestadt
- Lüdenscheid - List of personalities of the city of Lüdenscheid
- Schmallenberg - List of personalities of the city of Schmallenberg
Born and active in the Sauerland
Politics, rule and administration
- Heinrich von Alinghoven (called Laer) (* 1400; † 1491 in Bruges) was Marshal of Westphalia and envoy to Burgundy.
- Engelbert Arndts (born February 16, 1750 in Arnsberg; † October 31, 1819 there) was a lawyer, imperial postmaster and high official in the Duchy of Westphalia .
- Friedrich Arndts (born September 22, 1753 in Arnsberg; † February 8, 1812 in Meschede) was a lawyer in the Electoral Cologne and Hesse-Darmstadt services.
- Wilhelm Arnoldi (born December 30, 1884 in Altenhundem ; † April 18, 1965 ibid), ministerial director and initiator of the Hohe Bracht observation tower
- Dorothea Becker (* around 1535 in Kirchhundem ; † in May 1609 in Bilstein ) was acquitted of being a witch due to her steadfastness.
- Johannes Becker (born February 8, 1875 in Elspe ; † May 12, 1955 in Ludwigshafen am Rhein ) was a center party politician and from 1907 to 1933 a member of the Reichstag for the Arnsberg, Meschede and Olpe districts.
- Bernhard II. (Werl) (* around 1010, † around 1070 [1]) was Count von Werl , Count in Friesland, Vogt of Soest, Paderborn, Werden and Liesborn.
- Wilhelm Bette (born April 11, 1887 in Andreasberg, Meschede district, † February 15, 1967) was a politician (CDU). In the first legislative period he was a member of the state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Bertram Biederbeck (born September 21, 1924 in Niedermarsberg; † 2006) was a local politician and honorary district administrator (CDU) in the former district of Brilon.
- Gerhard Caspar Bigeleben (* 1701 in Menden; † October 26, 1780 in Werl) was the electoral Cologne Privy Councilor and official of the ecclesiastical court in Werl.
- Kaspar Josef von Biegeleben (* 1766 in Arnsberg , † 1842 in Darmstadt ) was a lawyer and civil servant, politician (in the service of the electoral Cologne state and Hessen-Darmstadt).
- Johann von Böckenförde called Schüngel (* around 1460; † 1545) was Landdrost of the Duchy of Westphalia.
- Friedrich Boese (born April 3, 1800 in Arnsberg, † February 1853 in Meschede) was district administrator of the Meschede district.
- Lothar Dietrich von Bönninghausen (* 1598 in Apricke ; † December 13, 1657) was an Imperial Lieutenant Field Marshal in the Thirty Years' War.
- Christoph Brandis (* in Werl, Westphalia; † March 10, 1658 in Rüthen in Westphalia) was Mayor of Rüthen and historian
- Julius Bräucker (born March 7, 1872 in Iserlohn, † March 5, 1942 in Iserlohn) was a social democratic politician.
- Karl Brüggemann (born January 24, 1896 in Oeventrop; † March 11, 1977) was a local politician and honorary district administrator (CDU) in the Arnsberg district.
- Siegfried von Brilon (* before 1334 in Brilon; † after 1353 ibid) was a knight in Brilon.
- August Bruse (born October 26, 1903 in Attendorn ; † August 27, 1984) was a politician of the SPD , mayor of Attendorn and a member of the Bundestag.
- Ewald Budde (born April 18, 1873 in Lüdenscheid; † November 12, 1966 there) was a politician (SPD), u. a. Member of the Weimar National Assembly .
- Dieter-Julius Cronenberg (born February 8, 1930 in Neheim ; † November 21, 2013) was an entrepreneur, politician ( FDP ) and Vice President of the German Bundestag.
- Carl Johann Ludwig Dham (also D'ham, born August 27, 1809 in Schmallenberg , † February 21, 1871 in Paderborn ) was a lawyer, politician and 1848/49 member of the Frankfurt National Assembly for a Sauerland constituency.
- Dietrich I. von Bilstein (* around 1202, † after 1255), builder of Bilstein Castle.
- Fritz Dorls (born September 9, 1910 in Brilon , † January 25, 1995) was a right-wing extremist politician ( DKP-DRP / SRP ).
- Wolfram Dorn (born July 18, 1924 in Altena , † June 17, 2014 in Halver ) was a politician ( FDP ). From 1969 to 1972 he was Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of the Interior .
- Engelbert Dietrich Ludwig von Droste zu Erwitte (* July 23, 1725, † July 9, 1769) was provost of the cathedral in Hildesheim and Landdrost of the Duchy of Westphalia.
- Rudolf Düppe (born July 23, 1947 in Menden) has been mayor of the city of Menden (Sauerland) since 1994. In 1999 he was elected Menden's first full-time mayor. Düppe is a member of the CDU.
- Doris Ebbing (born February 25, 1938 in Hemer; † November 20, 2009 in Hagen) was a local politician and mayor of the city of Hemer (1994-1995).
- Peter Joseph Floret (born January 18, 1778 in Werl; † September 3, 1836 [2] in Darmstadt) was a lawyer first in the Electoral Cologne and later in Hesse-Darmstadt services.
- Hans Frankenthal (born June 15, 1926 in Schmallenberg ; † December 22, 1999) was a Holocaust survivor. He reported about his ordeal and later advocated compensation for the forced laborers .
- Heinrich II. Von Gevore (* around 1140) was a nobleman of Gevore, who later called himself noblemen of Bilstein.
- Dagmar Freitag (born March 3, 1953 in Letmathe , now Iserlohn ) is a politician of the SPD and a member of the Bundestag for the Märkischer Kreis .
- Joseph Freusberg (born September 23, 1842 in Olpe; † July 30, 1917 in Berlin) was a Prussian judge and civil servant. Among other things, he was district administrator for the districts of Olpe and Arnsberg, and later in the Prussian Ministry of Culture, responsible for matters relating to the Catholic Church.
- Christian Franz Dietrich von Fürstenberg (partly also Christian Franz Theodor) (* February 5, 1689 at Fürstenberg Castle; † August 24, 1755 at Herdringen Castle) was canon before he returned to secular status and, among other things, a member of the Reichshofrat and Erb drost various offices in the Duchy of Westphalia.
- Ferdinand von Fürstenberg (born August 22, 1661 at Schnellenberg Castle; † March 15, 1718) was, among other things, Colonel stable master of the Duchy of Paderborn and Erbdrost in various offices in the Duchy of Westphalia.
- Franz Egon von Fürstenberg-Herdringen (born August 15, 1818 in Herdringen; † February 1, 1902 ibid.) Was the politician and builder of the new Herdringen Palace.
- Franz Wilhelm von Fürstenberg (born September 29, 1628 at Herdringen Castle, † September 2, 1688 in Mülheim) was a knight of the Teutonic Order and most recently the Landkomtur of the Westphalia ballot .
- Friedrich von Fürstenberg (Drost) (* around 1510/11 at Waterlappe Castle near Ense; † March 11, 1567) was electoral Cologne councilor and Drost of the offices of Waldenburg and Bilstein.
- Friedrich von Fürstenberg (Landdrost) (born March 1, 1576 - † August 9, 1646), Landdrost of the Duchy of Westphalia .
- Johann Adolf von Fürstenberg (born March 16, 1631 in Cologne, † April 14, 1704 in Herdringen) was a Catholic clergyman (most recently cathedral provost in Paderborn and Münster), as well as Drost in the Duchy of Westphalia, diplomat and builder of Adolfsburg Castle.
- Kaspar von Fürstenberg (born November 11, 1545 Castle Waterlappe near Ense , † March 5, 1618 in Arnsberg ), was from 1613 Landdroste of the Duchy of Westphalia and Droste zu Bilstein , Fredeburg .
- Hans Gabriel (born June 27, 1887 in Eslohe; † July 4, 1972 ibid) was a local politician and honorary district administrator (CDU).
- Johann von Gaugreben (born February 22, 1848 in Konstanz, † January 11, 1912 in Bruchhausen an den Steinen) was a landowner and Prussian district administrator in the Brilon district.
- Thomas Gemke (* 1957 in Balve) is a local politician (CDU). He has been the full-time district administrator of the Märkischer Kreis since 2009
- Friedrich Geiecke (born September 19, 1899 in Heiminghausen; † October 22, 1982 in Mindelheim) was a local politician and honorary district administrator ( center and CDU).
- Hermann-Josef Geismann (born August 1, 1930 in Hemer; † June 23, 2018 there) was a CDU member of the state parliament for the northern Märkische Kreis and was the last mayor of the Hemer office .
- Johann Matthias Gierse (born June 19, 1807 in Gellinghausen near Meschede , † June 7, 1881 in Münster ) was a lawyer and politician. He is considered to be one of the leading figures in the second phase of the revolution of 1848/49 in Westphalia .
- Gottfried I (Arnsberg) († around 1154) was Burgrave of Utrecht and since 1132 Count of Werl-Arnsberg.
- Melchior Niedhardt Gronau (* around 1648; † 1722 in Brilon) was a mayor of the city of Brilon.
- Emil Groll (born March 6, 1904 in Lüdenscheid; † July 26, 1978) was a politician and former member of the state parliament (SPD).
- Joachim Grünewald (born November 21, 1933 in Kirchhundem ; † January 5, 2012 in Olpe ) was a politician ( CDU ) and was Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Minister of Finance .
- Wilhelm Haarmann (politician) (born January 9, 1912 in Letmathe, now the city of Iserlohn; † July 13, 1990 in Iserlohn) was a local politician and honorary district administrator of the former Iserlohn district (CDU).
- Dagmar Hanses (born June 2, 1975 in Lennestadt) is a politician from Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen.
- Carl Ludwig Anton Maria Harbert (born October 10, 1771 in Arnsberg; † July 11, 1832 in Arnsberg) was a high official in the service of various sovereigns and mayor of the city of Arnsberg. He also emerged as a pomologist .
- Alfons Heimes (* 1946 in Saalhausen) is a politician (CDU). He is the former mayor of Lennestadt.
- Theo Heimes (born November 6, 1923 in Milchenbach; † March 10, 2008) was a local politician and member of the state parliament (SPD).
- Heinrich II. (Arnsberg) († after 1207) Count von Arnsberg and Count von Rietberg was co-regent of his father Heinrich I and at times also of his brother Gottfried II.
- Otto Hembeck (born May 25, 1881 in Lösenbach; † May 11, 1958 in Lüdenscheid) was an entrepreneur and politician (DVP, DNVP), u. a. Member of the Reichstag.
- Josef Hennemann (born January 14, 1908 in Repe; † April 27, 1968) was a co-founder of the CDU in the State Association of Westphalia and a member of the state parliament (CDU).
- Heinz Heppelmann (born May 17, 1927; † January 10, 2009 in Arnsberg-Neheim) was an administrative officer in Neheim-Hüsten who was involved in the social and voluntary civic sector.
- Hermann II. (Werl) (* around 980, † 1025) was Count von Werl, Count in Lochtrop, Leri- and Dreigau (in the upper Sauerland) and Count in the Diocese of Osnabrück. He was also Vogt of the monasteries Werden, Liesborn, Meschede and Oedingen.
- Wilhelm Hertin (born February 8, 1880 in Vosswinkel, † September 23, 1968 in Balve) was a local politician and honorary district administrator (CDU).
- Fritz Hesse (born January 10, 1893 in Altena; † August 29, 1963) was a social democratic politician.
- Franz Hillebrand (born February 14, 1918 in Brilon; † July 4, 1984) was a CDU politician.
- Wolfgang Hilleke (born March 4, 1963 in Attendorn) was elected as a non-party candidate for mayor of the city of Attendorn in the municipal elections in North Rhine-Westphalia in 2009.
- Friedrich Hilsmann (born December 28, 1808 in Rüthen; † February 21, 1900 in Neheim) was an early democrat, doctor and honorary citizen of the city of Neheim.
- Lorenz Hoffmann (born March 17, 1892 in Bigge; † September 28, 1967 there) was a local politician and honorary district administrator (CDU).
- Arnold Ludwig von Holtzbrinck (born September 20, 1811 in Altena; † April 8, 1886) was district administrator for the districts of Siegen and Altena and a member of the Prussian House of Representatives.
- Heinrich Wilhelm von Holtzbrinck (born January 3, 1809 in Altena, † June 24, 1877 in Oedenthal, municipality of Lüdenscheid-Land) was a Prussian civil servant, most recently district president and politician. For a short time he was also the Prussian Minister of Commerce.
- Walter Hostert (born May 19, 1926 in Lüdenscheid; † April 14, 2008 ibid) was a local politician and honorary district administrator (CDU).
- Everhard Höynck (* 1616 in Arnsberg; † September 17, 1675 in Brilon) was Mayor of Brilon.
- Klaus Hülsenbeck (born August 2, 1958) is a politician (CDU) and football referee.
- Horst Jäcker (born March 21, 1941 in Werdohl) is a politician and former member of the state parliament (CDU).
- Heinrich Jansen (born April 5, 1876 in Lüdinghausen; † September 16, 1945 in Warburg) was a landowner and long-time district administrator in the Brilon district.
- Johann I (Bilstein) (* ?; † April 8, 1310) was a nobleman and owner of the so-called Land of Bilstein and associated areas as well as Land Marshal of Westphalia.
- Klaus Kaiser (born March 6, 1957 in Bremen (Ense)) is a CDU politician. Since June 2, 2000 he has been a member of the state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia and spokesman for school policy for the CDU parliamentary group.
- Ernst Keller (born September 11, 1900 in Neheim ; † July 21, 1963) was a politician of the FDP and an entrepreneur.
- Hubertus Klenner (born October 7, 1959 in Marsberg) is a politician (CDU). He is the mayor of Marsberg, a town in the Sauerland.
- Matthias Kerkhoff (born September 3, 1979) is a CDU politician who has been a member of the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament since 2012. He moved into the state parliament as a directly elected member of the constituency Hochsauerlandkreis II.
- Thomas Köster (born October 28, 1946 in Menden ) is an economic politician and managing director of the umbrella organization of the craft in North Rhine-Westphalia .
- Walther Kolbe (born December 27, 1899 in Neheim-Hüsten , † December 25, 1953) was a CDU politician and member of the Bundestag.
- Konrad II. (Werl-Arnsberg) (* around 1040; † 1092 fell in Friesland) was Count of Werl-Arnsberg and Vogt of the Diocese of Paderborn.
- Rudolf Kraft (born February 24, 1923 in Scharfenberg; † 1993) was a local politician and honorary district administrator (CDU).
- Hermann Kroll-Schlueter (born March 1, 1939 in Belecke) is a farmer and politician (CDU).
- Theodor Kruse (born May 24, 1948 in Lennestadt -Grevenbrück) is a politician ( CDU ) and member of the state parliament for the Olpe district.
- Johannes Kühling (born April 12, 1890 in Küntrop; † March 2, 1965 ibid) was a local politician and honorary district administrator (CDU).
- Helmut Kumpf (born January 2, 1928 in Herrntrop (Kirchhundem parish), † June 5, 1973) was a CDU politician.
- Wolfram Kuschke (born April 9, 1950 in Menden ) is a politician of the SPD . He was President of the Arnsberg District and Minister in North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Clemens August von Landsberg zu Erwitte (* 1733; † June 12, 1785 in Velen) was a public official in the Duchy of Westphalia and the Duchy of Münster. In addition, he was entrepreneurial on a large scale.
- Daniel Dietrich von Landsberg zu Erwitte (sometimes also called Theodor von Landsberg) (* 1618; † November 15, 1683 in Arnsberg) was a high-ranking officer in the imperial, Spanish and Electoral Cologne service, diplomat and Landdrost in the Duchy of Westphalia.
- Franz Kaspar Ferdinand von Landsberg zu Erwitte (* March 2, 1670; † September 30, 1748 at Wocklum Castle near Balve) was a squire, canon and high-ranking official of the Duchy of Westphalia.
- Wilhelm Langemann (* 1889 in Willertshagen, Altena district, Westphalia, † July 29, 1988 presumably in Meinerzhagen, North Rhine-Westphalia) was both city and mayor of Hemer during the Nazi era.
- Johann Caspar Lecke (born March 14, 1694 in Iserlohn; † January 21, 1785 ibid) was an entrepreneur, Lord Mayor of Iserlohn and local historian.
- Helmut Lindner (born October 4, 1927 in Iserlohn; † November 17, 2002) was a politician and member of the state parliament (CDU).
- Counts of the Mark (1160–1609).
- Josef Mayworm (born May 22, 1877 in Attendorn; † February 20, 1953 in Attendorn) was a social democratic politician. He was one of the founders of social democracy in the Sauerland in the Electorate of Cologne.
- Meinolf Mertens (born June 4, 1923 in Bönkhausen, today Sundern (Sauerland); † May 14, 2009 there) was a local, state and European politician of the CDU
- Friedrich Merz (born November 11, 1955 in Brilon ) is a politician ( CDU ), former member of the Bundestag for the Hochsauerlandkreis and former parliamentary group leader of the CDU / CSU.
- Josef Metten (born August 13, 1909 in Listerscheid; † April 27, 1993) was a local politician and honorary district administrator (CDU).
- Stephan Mias (born March 27, 1911 in Iserlohn; †) was a local politician and honorary district administrator (FDP).
- Egon Mühr (born December 15, 1933 in Arnsberg-Neheim; † January 11, 2008 there) was a senior district director and politician of the CDU.
- Franz Müntefering (born January 16, 1940 in Neheim ) is a politician ( SPD ). He was the SPD Federal Chairman and from 2005 to 2007 Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Labor and Social Affairs.
- Heinrich Philipp Osterrath (born December 13, 1805 in Arnsberg; † January 28, 1880 there) was a Prussian civil servant and parliamentarian
- Wilhelm Otto (born June 15, 1898 in Erlinghausen; † May 14, 1956) was a politician and member of the state parliament (CDU).
- August Overweg (born June 10, 1836 in Iserlohn ; † March 2, 1909 in Letmathe , now Iserlohn) was a civil servant and politician (First Governor of Westphalia).
- Erpo von Padberg (also Erpho von Padberg; † 1113 in Flechtdorf, today part of Diemelsee) was a count from the short-lived line of the Padberg counts. In 1104 he founded the Flechtdorf Monastery.
- Gottschalk I. von Padberg , first documented mention 1165–1196 / † 1201, founder of the Bredelar monastery.
- Johann I of the New House of Padberg , documented from 1322, † 1368, Marshal of Westphalia 1356–1358, free count in Padberg 1359–1360.
- Alex Paust (born October 19, 1945 in Voßwinkel ) was mayor of the city of Arnsberg.
- Hunold I von Plettenberg (* around 1190) was Marshal of Westphalia from 1256 to 1260.
- Johann I von Plettenberg (* before 1270, † after 1314) was Marshal of Westphalia.
- Wilhelm von Plettenberg († February 2, 1711) was colonel and land commander of the Teutonic Order.
- Christian Pospischil (born July 30, 1981 in Attendorn) was elected mayor of the city of Attendorn as a candidate of the SPD in the municipal elections in North Rhine-Westphalia in 2014.
- Franz Quadflieg (born December 10, 1900 in Meschede; † 1957 there) was a politician (NSDAP).
- Johann Quick (born October 3, 1893 in Winterberg; † July 24, 1949 in Assinghausen) was a local politician and honorary district administrator (CDU).
- Josef Quinke (born October 18, 1905 in Fretter; † December 16, 1942 in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp) was a master baker and victim of the Nazi regime. He died in Sachsenhausen concentration camp and was later declared a martyr of the 20th century.
- Michael Rademacher (born November 17, 1952 in Arnsberg-Voßwinkel) is a local SPD politician.
- Kaspar Reinhard (* 1596 in Werl; † 1669) was a lawyer in the service of the Electorate of Cologne and is best known as a witch commissioner.
- Johann Richard Rham (* around 1600 in Werl; † October 7, 1663 in Coesfeld) was a Premonstratensian, alchemist, imperial councilor and diplomat.
- Aloys Rüberg (born March 2, 1894 in Iserlohn; † January 30, 1971 in Iserlohn) was a syndic of craftsmen's associations, civil servants and politicians of the Center Party.
- Hermann II. († around 1246) was a nobleman from the Rüdenberger family with headquarters on the Rüdenburg near Arnsberg and burgrave of Stromberg.
- Konrad II. (* Before 1217; † between 1253 and 1261) was a nobleman from the Rüdenberger family and was burgrave of Stromberg.
- Ludwig Runte (* 1896 in Niedermarsberg, † 1958 in Rheydt) was a National Socialist politician.
- Fritz Rustemeyer (born October 14, 1898 in Iserlohn-Obergrüne, † November 3, 1965 in Iserlohn) was an SPD politician and mayor of Iserlohn.
- August Schlingmann (born October 17, 1901 in Lüdenscheid; † November 12, 1993 there) was a politician (SPD). From 1950 to 1966 he was a member of the state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia and from 1953 to 1961 Lord Mayor of the city of Lüdenscheid.
- Josef Schrage (born May 6, 1881 in Olpe ; † November 27, 1953 in Olpe), was a trade union official and politician ( center , chairman of the CDU parliamentary group in the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament ).
- Hartmut Schauerte (born September 13, 1944 in Kirchhundem ) is a politician ( CDU ). Member of the Bundestag for the Olpe district and State Secretary.
- Hermann Scheffler (born March 29, 1920 in Hemer-Westig; † January 11, 1983 in Hemer) was a politician (SPD).
- Heinrich Schlieper (born December 18, 1826 in Iserlohn; † April 8, 1905) was an industrialist and politician.
- Josef Schmelzer (born July 30, 1876 in Oberhundem; † October 8, 1962 ibid.) Was a farmer and politician first of the Center Party and later of the CDU.
- Karl Schneider (born February 13, 1952) is a CDU politician. He is the full-time district administrator of the Hochsauerlandkreis.
- Franz Schrewe (born May 29, 1950 in Brilon) is a politician of the SPD. He is the mayor of the city of Brilon.
- Theodor Schroeder (born April 9, 1829 in Mülheim an der Möhne, † June 8, 1890) was a lawyer and politician of the Center Party.
- Degenhard von Schüngel (* around 1372, † 1440) was feudal lord of Neheim, Övinghausen and Echthausen.
- Bernd Schulte (born December 8, 1949 in Lüdenscheid) is a politician (CDU) and member of the state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Wilhelm Schwarze (born August 24, 1851 in Brilon ; † January 8, 1937 in Ostercappeln ) was a lawyer and politician at the center , a member of the Reichstag for the districts of Brilon and Lippstadt and a member of the Prussian state parliament.
- Wilhelm Seissenschmidt (born May 24, 1802 in Belecke; † June 5, 1871 in Arnsberg) was mayor of Arnsberg, member of the Prussian House of Representatives and author of historical articles.
- Johann Friedrich Joseph Sommer (born January 26, 1793 in Kirchhundem ; † November 13, 1856 in Arnsberg ) was a publicist and editor, politician and lawyer.
- Franz Wilhelm von Spiegel zum Desenberg (born January 8, 1753 at Canstein Castle (near Marsberg ); † August 6, 1815 ibid.) Was a nobleman, supporter of the Enlightenment, Landdrost of the Duchy of Westphalia and Minister of the Electoral Cologne state .
- Theodor Hermann von Spiegel (* 1712; † 1779) was Landdrost of the Duchy of Westphalia.
- Friedrich Wilhelm von Spiegel zum Desenberg (born May 14, 1775 at Canstein Castle, † April 13, 1807 in Olpe) was mining captain in the mining office of the Duchy of Westphalia.
- Aloys Steppuhn (born June 19, 1950 in Hemer) is the current full-time district administrator of the Märkisches Kreis.
- Henrich Stoffregen (*? From Hesborn; † August 4, 1628 in Hallenberg), executed in the witch hunts in Westphalia
- Gerhard Struckelmann was since 1487 Oberfreigraf of the Arnsberger Oberfreistuhl.
- Alfons Stumpf (born November 21, 1949 in Attendorn) was Mayor of Attendorn from 1994 to October 21, 2009.
- Heinrich Teipel (born March 22, 1885 in Arnsberg, † April 11, 1945 in Wanzleben) was a politician (NSDAP), veterinarian and SA leader.
- Wilhelm Tewes (born September 16, 1878, † October 8, 1957 in Warburg) was a local politician and honorary district administrator (CDU).
- Fritz Thomée (* 1862 in Werdohl, † 1944) was an administrative lawyer and district administrator for the Altena district. He was significantly involved in measures to maintain Altena Castle at the beginning of the 20th century.
- Franz Anton Thüsing (born April 23, 1782 in Gut Brenschede (near Sundern); † May 18, 1832 ibid.) Was the first district administrator in the Arnsberg district.
- Günther Trommer (born January 28, 1918 in Waldkirchen; † April 11, 1990) was a politician and member of the state parliament (SPD).
- Clemens August von Weichs (* 1736; † 1815) was the last Landdrost in the Duchy of Westphalia and, under the rule of Hesse-Darmstadt, president of the government council in Arnsberg.
- Willi Weiskirch (* 1923 in Welschen Ennest , now Kirchhundem , † 1996 Altenhundem now Lennestadt ) was a politician of the CDU , 1985-1990 Defense Commissioner of the German Bundestag .
- Martin Wendt (born March 24, 1935 in Velmede ; † September 8, 2010), was a politician ( SPD ), member of the Bundestag from 1965 to 1980.
- Heinrich had been Count von Werl since around 1017.
- Rudolf von Werl (also Ludolf) (* around 982/86; † July 12th around 1044) came from the house of the Counts of Werl and was a count in Groningerland in the Frisian Emsland.
- Conradus Wesceli was a medieval mayor (consul regens or proconsul) in Brilon.
- Joachim Westermann (born March 26, 1948 in Hemer; † August 15, 2018) was a politician and State Secretary in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Clemens August von Westphalen zu Fürstenberg (born December 4, 1805 in Frankfurt am Main , † April 10, 1885 at Laer Castle near Meschede ) was a Fideikommissherr and politician.
- Wilhelm II of Bavaria Freiherr von Höllinghofen (*?; † February 10, 1657) was initially Landdrost of the Duchy of Westphalia and from 1650 Prince Abbot of Stablo and Malmedy.
- Dirk Wiese (born July 11, 1983 in Paderborn) is a politician of the SPD, a member of the German Bundestag since 2013 and Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy since 2017 .
- Ferdinand von Wrede (* 1619, † 1685) was a high-ranking electoral officer and most recently as Landdrost deputy to the elector in the Duchy of Westphalia.
- Wilhelm Wulff (born July 17, 1815 in Arnsberg; † August 14, 1892 in Münster) was Mayor of Arnsberg from 1842 to 1878.
religion
- Aloysius Althaus (* 1966 in Bad Berleburg) has been abbot of the Benedictine Abbey of Königsmünster in Meschede since 2013.
- Agnes von Arnsberg (also Agnes zu Meschede) (* around 1236, † April 7, 1306) was the last abbess of the women's monastery in Meschede. She was also the abbess of Oedingen Abbey.
- Johannes von Arnsberg (also Johann von Arnsberg) († 1319) was the first provost of this institution after the women's monastery in Meschede was converted into a canon monastery.
- Walram von Arnsberg (* around 1292; † 1322 or 1323) was provost of the Meschede monastery.
- Wilhelm von Arnsberg was provost of the Meschede canon from around 1323 to 1346.
- Wilhelm Bäumer (born November 17, 1783 in Halver, † May 13, 1848 in Arnsberg) was a Protestant theologian of the Reformed Church and Prussian consistorial councilor.
- Norbert Bicker († 1715 in Arnsberg) was abbot of the Premonstratensian Monastery of Wedinghausen from 1688 to 1715.
- Gottfried von Bilstein († 1289) was abbot of the Grafschaft monastery from 1272 to 1289.
- Kaspar Friedrich Brieden (born June 24, 1844 in Olpe; † June 12, 1908 in Arnsberg) was a Catholic theologian and provost in Magdeburg and Arnsberg.
- Johannes Dornseiffer (born February 2, 1837 in Gerlingen, today the municipality of Wenden (Sauerland); † December 11, 1914 in Eslohe) was a priest, founder of the winter school in Fretter and involved in the establishment of several savings and loan funds.
- Franz Joseph Fischer (* 1740 in Calle; † August 21, 1806 in Calle) was the last abbot of the Premonstratensian Monastery in Wedinghausen.
- Wilhelm Freseken (also Wilhelmus de Susato) († July 19, 1401) was provost of the Meschede monastery, canon in Soest, cathedral provost in Münster and canon in St. Aposteln in Cologne.
- Salomon Friedländer (born October 14, 1824 or October 23, 1825 in Brilon, † August 22, 1860 in Chicago) was a representative of German Reform Judaism.
- Bernhard Frick (* around 1600 in Hachen, Westphalia; † March 31, 1655 in Paderborn) was vicar general and auxiliary bishop in Paderborn and Hildesheim.
- Anna von Fürstenberg († November 29, 1626) was abbess of the Premonstratensian monastery in Oelinghausen from 1621.
- Cordula von Fürstenberg († 1561) was the abbess of the noble women's monastery in Geseke.
- Ottilia von Fürstenberg (born February 21, 1549 at Waterlappe Castle near Ense; † March 7, 1621) was the prioress of the Oelinghausen Monastery and the secular Heerse Abbey.
- Friedrich Anton Gelshorn (born May 8, 1814 in Winterberg ; † June 3, 1875 in Wiesbaden ) was a Catholic priest and politician.
- Peter Grebe (born April 24, 1896 in Thieringhausen near Olpe; † March 20, 1962) was a Catholic clergyman and victim of the Nazi justice system.
- Adrian Höynck (born October 20, 1701 in Bilstein; † January 26, 1749 in Arnsberg) was abbot in the Premonstratensian Monastery of Wedinghausen.
- Coelestin Höynck (* 1659 in Arnsberg; † October 25, 1727 in Grafschaft) was Cellarius and later abbot of the Grafschaft monastery.
- Rotger Linden (also Rotger under der Linden; † January 28, 1584) was from 1551 to 1584 as Rotger III. Abbot of the county monastery.
- Dominicus Meier (* 1959 in Heggen) is former abbot of the Benedictine Abbey of Königsmünster in Meschede, official of the Archdiocese of Paderborn and appointed auxiliary bishop in Paderborn
- Johann Heinrich Montanus (* May 1680 on the Krauseholz farm northeast of Altenfeld; † February 26, 1743 in Schmallenberg-Bödefeld) was a Catholic priest.
- Franco von Meschede (14th century) was a scholar at Meschede Monastery, poet of sacred works and Chancellor of Archbishop Burchard Grelle.
- Gottfried von Padberg (partly also Gottfried von Scharfenberg, as Abbot Gottfried II) († May 25, 1343) was abbot of the Grafschaft monastery from 1325 to 1343.
- Lorenz Pieper (born May 15, 1875 in Eversberg; † January 30, 1951 in Meschede) was a Catholic priest. He was an early supporter and propagandist of the Völkisch movement and National Socialism.
- Emericus Quincken (* 1639 in Schmallenberg; † September 18, 1707) was abbot of the Grafschaft monastery.
- Michael Reinhartz (* 1613; † 1688) was abbot of the Premonstratensian Monastery of Wedinghausen from 1663 to 1688
- Godfried Richardi (* 1629 in Oberberndorf; † April 9, 1682) was abbot of the Grafschaft monastery in Schmallenberg from April 22, 1671 to April 9, 1682.
- Luitbert von Rödinghausen († 1320) was abbot of the Grafschaft monastery from 1290 to 1320.
- Rötger von Schade (also Rotger) († March 19, 1469) was abbot of the Grafschaft monastery.
- Franz Schauerte (born March 15, 1848 in Schmallenberg-Oberberndorf, † September 6, 1910 in Oberberndorf) was an episcopal commissioner in Magdeburg and an author.
- Stephan Schröer (* 1940 in Freienohl) is a former abbot of the Benedictine Abbey of Königsmünster in Meschede.
- Heinrich Sommer (born January 3, 1872, † April 18, 1918) was a Catholic clergyman and pioneer in the work of the disabled.
- Michael Stappert (* probably around 1585/1590 in Meiste zu Rüthen , † 1663 in Grevenstein ) was a pastor and wrote a pamphlet against the witch trials .
- Heinrich Steinhoff (* around 1540 in Würdinghausen ; † October 20, 1611 in Grafschaft) was abbot of the Grafschaft monastery.
- Widukind von Wittgenstein († November 14, 1272) was abbot of the Grafschaft monastery from 1258 to 1278.
Literature, art and culture
- Johann Wilhelm Arndts (* 1710 in Arnsberg; † 1771 in Arnsberg) was an official from the Electorate of Cologne, postmaster of the Reichspost and the main founder of the Arnsberger Intelligence Journal.
- Tom Astor , bourgeois: Willi Bräutigam (born February 27, 1943 in Schmallenberg) is a country music singer.
- Johanna Baltz (born December 23, 1849 in Arnsberg, † December 31, 1918 in Arnsberg) was an author.
- Franz Belke (born August 17, 1876 in Förde, today: Grevenbrück, † July 18, 1941 in Grevenbrück) was a sculptor.
- Josefa Berens-Totenohl (born March 30, 1891 in Grevenstein, Sauerland; † June 6, 1969 in Meschede) was a writer and painter.
- Josef Bergenthal (* 1827 in Sundern; † 1887 in Philadelphia) was a painter. He later emigrated to the USA.
- August Beule (born November 27, 1867 in Elpe, † December 24, 1923 in Ramsbeck) was a master shoemaker and poet in Ramsbeck.
- Matthias Beule (born September 26, 1877 in Grevenbrück; † August 24, 1921 in Kreuzburg) worked as a sculptor (sacred buildings) in the Sauerland and later in Upper Silesia
- Matthias Bongard (born May 2, 1961 in Iserlohn) is a radio presenter at Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR).
- Johann J. Claßen or Clahsen, also Hans Claßen (born April 28, 1953 in Oberschledorn / Sauerland) is a poet, literary magazine and anthology editor.
- Emma Cramer-Crummenerl (born February 27, 1875 in Lüdenscheid; † January 1, 1964 ibid) was an author of poetry in Lüdenscheid Low German and popular novels in High and Low German.
- Ernst Dossmann (* 1926 in Iserlohn) is an architect and is considered the leading figure of the Brandenburg homeland movement.
- Axel Ertelt (born April 3, 1954 in Lüdenscheid) is a non-fiction author in the field of border sciences.
- Walter Ewig (born December 19, 1897 in Dröschede, † August 1, 1984 in Iserlohn) was a local researcher in the Iserlohn district.
- Florentine Goswin-Benfer (born May 2, 1883 in Mollseifen, † March 15, 1968 in Iserlohn) was a Westphalian native writer who wrote her poems on Wittgensteiner Platt.
- Chrysologus Heimes (born April 2, 1765 in Oberhundem; † May 2, 1835 in Reiste) was a Franciscan priest, organist, organ expert and composer.
- Friedrich Happel (born May 23, 1825 in Arnsberg, † July 5, 1854 in Düsseldorf) was a painter.
- Peter Heinrich Happel (born March 26, 1813 in Arnsberg, † May 23, 1854 in Düsseldorf) was a painter.
- Kathrin Heinrichs (born February 8, 1970 in Langenholthausen, North Rhine-Westphalia) is a crime writer and cabaret artist.
- Anna Kayser (born September 1, 1885 in Hespecke near Elspe; † October 20, 1962 there) was a Sauerland writer.
- Heinrich Knoche (born January 19, 1831 in Bad Fredeburg, † October 22, 1911 in Herdringen) was the headmaster of the elementary school in Herdringen, Arnsberg, from 1852 to 1892. He was the author of the six million copies of the arithmetic book for elementary schools.
- Christine Koch (born April 23, 1869 in Herhagen, today Eslohe municipality; † April 18, 1951 in Bracht, today Schmallenberg) was a poet in Sauerland dialect.
- Petrus von Kolshusen († 1552 in Arnsberg) was a picture carver. He is considered the most important carving artist in the Sauerland in the 16th century.
- Nicole Köster (born August 11, 1975 in Brilon) is a radio presenter.
- Renate & Werner Leismann (* 1942 and * 1936 in Schmallenberg), singing siblings from the field of pop and folk music.
- Carola Matthiesen (born November 9, 1925 in Eslohe; † April 29, 2015) was an educator, librarian, writer and poet.
- Ina-Maria Mihályhegyi-Witthaut (born March 20, 1946 in Kirchhundem, † October 5, 1987 in Siegen) was an artist. She worked in particular as a painter and graphic artist.
- Georg Hermann Nellius (born March 29, 1891 in Rumbeck; † November 8, 1952) was a composer, choir director and music director.
- Fritz Nölle (born May 19, 1899 in Lüdenscheid, † 1980 in Lüdenscheid) was a writer.
- Magdalena Padberg (born June 14, 1926 in Eslohe (Sauerland); † March 5, 2019) was a publicist.
- Adam Poelmann (* 1567 in Hallenberg; † 1625) was a Catholic pastor and author of sacred plays.
- Theodor Pröpper (born May 26, 1896 in Balve; † July 31, 1979 in Balve) was a composer and church musician.
- Esther Riecke-Volkmann (* 1969 in Balve) is an artist.
- Dietmar Rost (born March 18, 1939 in Arnsberg, † January 13, 1996 in Bad Rothenfelde) was a teacher, author and editor.
- Shepherd Heinrich (born December 4, 1966; actually Heinrich Gersmeier) is the nickname of a farmer.
- Heinrich Schauerte (born November 17, 1882 in Schmallenberg-Nordenau; † August 6, 1975 in Schmallenberg-Fredeburg) was Professor of Religious Folklore.
- Johannes Schmidt , called the "Lügenschmidt" (* 1824 in Allendorf near Sundern; † 1881) was a pastor, local poet and original of the Sauerland.
- Paul Hermann Schoedder (born November 17, 1887 in Iserlohn, † November 14, 1971 in Allendorf, now Sundern) was a painter
- Bodo Schulte (* 1963 in Menden ) is a puppeteer, screenwriter and puppeteer coach.
- Engelbert Seibertz (born April 20, 1813 in Brilon; † October 2, 1905 in Arnsberg) was a portrait and history painter.
- Paul Senske (born October 26, 1949 in Arnsberg-Voßwinkel) was editor-in-chief of Radio Sauerland.
- Peter Soemer (born August 12, 1832 in Elspe; † October 4, 1902 in Büderich) was a theologian and poet.
- Paul Tigges (born November 16, 1922 in Fredeburg; † July 29, 2006) was a teacher, author and holder of the Federal Cross of Merit on ribbon.
- Sandy Wagner (born November 28, 1965 in Iserlohn as Stefan Dietmar Wagner) is a television presenter, pop singer and composer.
- Hans K. Wehren (born February 18, 1921 in Iserlohn; † April 17, 1988 there) was a writer.
- Günter Wewel (born November 29, 1934 in Arnsberg) is a chamber singer (bassist) and television presenter.
- Karl Willeke (born January 12, 1875 in Schmallenberg; † September 20, 1956 in Arnsberg) was a teacher and author.
- Udo Wollmeiner (* 1935 in Sauerland) is a freelance artist from Oeventrop.
science and technology
- Wilhelm Ackermann (born March 29, 1896 in Schönebecke ; † December 24, 1962 in Lüdenscheid ) was a mathematician .
- Anton Wilhelm Stephan Arndts (born October 23, 1765 in Arnsberg; † April 27, 1830 there) was professor of mineralogy in Bonn.
- Theodor Beste (born April 10, 1894 in Neheim-Hüsten ; † December 20, 1973) was a professor of business administration .
- Friedrich Albert Groeteken (born May 12, 1878 in Bochum; † October 26, 1961 in Bad Godesberg-Plittersdorf) was a priest, teacher, author and local history researcher.
- Wolfgang Hänisch (* 1954 in Hemer) is a narrative researcher.
- Matthias Werner Hüser (* 1756 in Arnsberg; † after 1830) was an Electoral Cologne official and archivist. In this position he remained in the Hessian and Prussian services. He was also the author of several historical writings.
- Wilhelm Kathol (born December 5, 1878 in Berlar, † January 11, 1951 in Meschede) was an architect and construction clerk who worked as a district master builder in Meschede.
- Heinrich Eduard von Pape (born September 13, 1816 in Brilon , † September 10, 1888 in Berlin ) was a lawyer , a. a. Employee at the civil code .
- Julius Wilhelm Ruer (born May 30, 1784 in Meschede, † December 17, 1864 in Hamm) was a general practitioner and psychiatrist
- Josef Rüther (born March 22, 1881 in Assinghausen; † November 16, 1972 in Brilon) was a homeland researcher in the Sauerland, an activist in the Peace Association of German Catholics and a left-wing Catholic publicist.
- Friedrich Adolf Sauer (born January 1, 1765 in Barge ( Iserlohn district ), † February 14, 1839 in Arnsberg ) was a cleric, educator and school reformer.
- Carl Schmitt (born July 11, 1888, † April 7, 1985 in Plettenberg ) was a constitutional lawyer and political philosopher .
- Johann Suibert Seibertz (born November 27, 1788 in Brilon , † November 17, 1871 in Arnsberg ) was a lawyer and historian .
- Manfred Sönnecken (born April 13, 1928 in Lüdenscheid; † November 8, 2003 in Lüdenscheid) was a geographer and local researcher.
- Caspar Christian Vogt von Elspe (* 1632; † 1701) was Drost von Medebach, Marsberg and Volkmarsen. He became known as a historian. In 1694 he was the first to use the term Süderland / Sauerland.
- Eberhard Winkhaus (* 1892, † 1953) was a Westphalian journalist, homeland researcher and family researcher.
- Friedrich Leopold Woeste (born February 15, 1807 in Hemer ; † January 7, 1878 in Iserlohn ) was a linguist and dialect researcher.
Business, unions and associations
- Johannes Franz Becker (born December 18, 1689 in Meinkenbracht; † January 21, 1777) was a Catholic priest and mining entrepreneur.
- Carl Berg (born February 4, 1851 in Lüdenscheid, † May 26, 1906 ibid.) Was an entrepreneur and airship builder.
- Wilhelm Bergenthal (born February 4, 1805 in Warstein, † April 28, 1893 in Warstein) was a founder of the mining industry in the Westphalian region.
- Ulrich Bettermann (born October 14, 1946 in Menden) is a German-Swiss entrepreneur.
- Wolfhard Freiherr von Boeselager (born October 17, 1936 in Echthausen) is an entrepreneur and active conservationist.
- Dieter Buttgereit (born November 28, 1932 in Eiringhausen; † November 23, 2010) was an entrepreneur.
- Josef Cosack (born June 19, 1801 in Neheim, † September 18, 1879 in Karlsbad) was an entrepreneur and industrial pioneer.
- Johannes Dornseiffer (born February 2, 1837 in Gerlingen (municipality of Wenden ), † December 11, 1914 in Eslohe ), clergyman Fretter and Eslohe, founder of the agricultural winter school in Fretter.
- Gustav Edelhoff (born July 26, 1900 in Deilinghofen, † June 26, 1986 in Iserlohn) was a waste disposal company.
- Alexander Josef Freiherr von Elverfeldt (born March 19, 1929 in Niedermarsberg , today a district of Marsberg; † August 24, 2018 in Canstein) a farmer and forester, as well as an association official and author.
- Albert Falke (born January 5, 1922 in Schmallenberg; † March 3, 2010 there) was an entrepreneur and politician of the CDU.
- Franz Falke (* 1885 in Schmallenberg; † 1951) was an entrepreneur.
- Paul Falke (born January 6, 1920 in Schmallenberg; † February 3, 1990 in Gstaad / Switzerland) was an entrepreneur and local politician.
- Moritz Friedländer (actually Meyer Friedländer) (born July 3, 1822 in Brilon; † November 14, 1911 ibid) was a publisher.
- Rolf Hasenclever (born May 25, 1928 in Lüdenscheid; † November 18, 2008 there) was an engineer and entrepreneur.
- Wilhelm Hesse (born February 19, 1942 in Arnsberg) is an entrepreneur and president of the South Westphalia Chamber of Crafts (until 2007 Arnsberg Chamber of Crafts).
- Fritz Honsel (* 1888; † 1964) was the founder of the Honselwerke .
- Oskar Eduard Hueck (born October 8, 1886 in Lüdenscheid; † October 29, 1966 there) was an industrial pioneer and founder of the Lüdenscheid aluminum industry.
- Kuno Kämper (born April 11, 1922 in Lüdenscheid; † August 25, 2012) was an engineer and entrepreneur. He was one of the founding fathers of the Wirtschaftsjunioren Germany.
- Paul Kleinschnittger (born February 24, 1909 in Hoppecke / Sauerland , † January 3, 1989 ) was an automobile manufacturer in Arnsberg.
- Helmut Kostal (born December 24, 1944 in Lüdenscheid; † November 5, 2015) was an entrepreneur from Lüdenscheid.
- Friedrich Kirchhoff (* 1890; † October 1, 1978 in Iserlohn) was an entrepreneur.
- Dieter Graf von Landsberg-Velen (born December 17, 1925 at Wocklum Castle near Balve; † April 15, 2012 in Hamm ) was a sports official (nickname Reiter-Graf) and was President of the Malteser Aid Service Germany.
- Franz Anton Lentze (born March 24, 1777 in Arnsberg; † August 7, 1849 in Endorf) was an early industrial entrepreneur.
- Julius Lex (* 1829 - † April 1917 in Meschede) was an entrepreneur.
- Alexander Löbbecke (born August 17, 1812 in Iserlohn; † December 23, 1867 there) was an entrepreneur and military in Iserlohn.
- Johann Theodor Möller (born June 14, 1705 in Werdohl; † January 30, 1763 in Warstein) was a pre-industrial entrepreneur in copper mining and copper production.
- Theodor Müllensiefen (born September 9, 1802 in Iserlohn; † May 26, 1879 in Theodorshof near Rheinfelden, Switzerland) was an industrial pioneer and Prussian politician.
- Hermann Diedrich Piepenstock (born August 6, 1782 in Iserlohn; † September 4, 1843 ibid.) Was a businessman and manufacturer.
- Johann Caspar Rumpe (* 1748; † 1833) was a Reidemeister, wire and sewing needle manufacturer and mayor of Altena during the French period.
- Friedrich von Schenck (born January 16, 1851 in Arnsberg, † April 20, 1912 in Kassel) was an entrepreneur and lobbyist.
- Gustav Selve (born February 28, 1842 in Lüdenscheid- Peddensiepen, † November 7, 1909 in Altena) was an industrialist in the metal industry.
- Sophie Stecker (born August 28, 1864 in Schmallenberg, † November 19, 1957 in Schmallenberg) was an entrepreneur.
- Johann Hermann Stindt (born September 12, 1763 in Niederhemer , † July 12, 1846) was one of the most important mill builders and paper form manufacturers.
- Hermann Joseph Graf zu Stolberg-Stolberg (born February 28, 1854 in Westheim; † June 16, 1925 in Westheim) was the owner of the Westheim estate and the associated brewery as well as a politician, association official and local history researcher.
- Anton Sunder-Plassmann (born June 28, 1860 in Liesborn, † September 19, 1931 in Grevenbrück) was an architect and building contractor.
- Anton Ludwig Ulrich (born May 9, 1751 in Brilon; † October 8, 1834 in Bredelar) was an entrepreneur in the coal and steel industry in pre-industrial and early industrial times.
- Rosemarie Veltins (born February 14, 1938 in Grevenstein ; † April 30, 1994 ibid.) Was an entrepreneur.
- Dietrich Walther (born February 6, 1942 in Stettin ; † November 12, 2016) was an entrepreneur from Iserlohn and president of the private BiTS University of Applied Sciences .
- Conrad Freiherr von Wendt (born April 24, 1872 at Gevelinghausen Castle , † January 19, 1945) was a founding member of the Josefs Society on August 15, 1904 and its first chairman from June 1, 1914 to January 19, 1945.
Sports
- Jens Esche (born February 21, 1973 in Iserlohn) is a former ice hockey player who was active during his career for the ECD Sauerland and the Hammer Eisbären in the 2nd Bundesliga and 1st League North, respectively.
- Antonio Fonso (born March 5, 1969 in Iserlohn) is a former German-Italian ice hockey player.
- Alfred Grosche (born January 20, 1950 in Winterberg) is a former ski jumper.
- Matthias Grothe (born May 16, 1978 in Hemer; † October 31, 2017) was a basketball player and coach.
- Silvia Hollmann (born May 13, 1955 in Menden ) is a track and field athlete and Olympic participant.
- Frank Huebner (born October 16, 1950 in Lüdenscheid ) is a sailor who became Olympic champion in 1976 .
- Günter Keute (born December 21, 1955 in Arnsberg-Voßwinkel) was a football player.
- Fritz Klein (born December 6, 1909 in Arnsberg; † February 2, 1996) was a lawyer and sports official.
- Dieter von Landsberg-Velen (born December 17, 1925 at Wocklum Castle near Balve in Sauerland, † April 15, 2012 in Hamm ) was a sports official (nickname Reiter-Graf) and was President of the Malteser Aid Service Germany.
- Heinz Neuhaus (born April 14, 1926 in Iserlohn , † April 6, 1998) was a boxer .
- Matthias Potthoff (born October 26, 1987 in Schwerte ) is an ice hockey player for the Iserlohn Roosters .
- Werner Schumacher (born October 10, 1935 in Langenei-Kickenbach, † February 12, 2013 in Attendorn) was a football player and coach.
- René Spies (born July 5, 1973 in Winterberg ) is a bobsleigh pilot .
- Sigrid Wulsch (born September 30, 1953 in Menden) is a track and field athlete who competes for the LG Menden.
Born in the Sauerland
Politics, rule and administration
- Franz Joseph Freiherr von Arens (born June 7, 1779 in Arnsberg, † April 1, 1855) was a lawyer and politician.
- Henry M. Arens (actually Heinrich Martin Arens) (born November 21, 1873 in Bausenrode, today Finnentrop, † October 6, 1963 in Jordan, Minnesota) was a German immigrant in the United States. There he was a farmer and politician.
- Carl Ludwig Arndts (ennobled to Carl Ludwig Ritter von Arnesberg since 1871 ; * August 19, 1803 in Arnsberg, † March 1, 1878 in Vienna ) was a lawyer, professor and politician (member of the Frankfurt National Assembly and the Austrian Manor House).
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Carl_Ludwig_Arndts.jpg/170px-Carl_Ludwig_Arndts.jpg)
Carl Ludwig Arndts, lithograph by Josef Kriehuber , 1861
- Hermann Christian Arndts (born September 9, 1831 in Arnsberg, † November 19, 1888 in Deutz) was a Prussian civil servant, syndic, administrator and member of the state parliament. He was involved in setting up what is now the Geisenheim research institute.
- Johann Karl von der Becke (born May 27, 1756 in Iserlohn, † August 21, 1830 in Gotha) was a lawyer and minister in Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.
- Kurt Birrenbach (born July 2, 1907 in Arnsberg, † December 26, 1987 in Düsseldorf) was a CDU politician.
- Heinrich von Böckenförde († December 1437) was Landmeister of the Teutonic Order in Livonia.
- Rudolf zur Bonsen (born October 28, 1886 in Fredeburg, † 1952 in Cologne) was an administrative lawyer and district president.
- Otto Bornemann (born September 9, 1891 in Arnsberg, Westphalia, † December 13, 1972 in Frankfurt) was a politician. He was a leading member of the Young German Order.
- Jobst Edmund von Brabeck (born November 11, 1619 in Letmathe; † August 13, 1702 in Hildesheim) was Prince-Bishop of Hildesheim since 1688.
- Fritz Busch (born April 2, 1884 in Arnsberg, † December 22, 1958 in Arnsberg) was a railway manager. He was general director of the Deutsche Reichsbahn after 1945.
- Siegmund Crummenerl (born February 19, 1892 in Lüdenscheid; † May 23, 1940 in Paris) was an active member of the board of directors of Sopade in the resistance against Nazism from exile.
- Anton Dichtel (born September 18, 1901 in Brilon , † April 29, 1978 in Freiburg im Breisgau ) was a politician (first Center Party , later CDU ).
- Caspar Ferdinand Droste zu Füchten (born November 21, 1713; † June 9, 1774 in Hildesheim) was canon of various cathedral chapters, vicar general, court chamber president and cathedral dean in Münster.
- Joseph Dünnebacke (born August 6, 1878 in Hengsbeck, † July 14, 1963 in Recklinghausen) was an association and local politician.
- August Erdmann (born January 22, 1862 in Iserlohn; † October 8, 1938 in Cologne) was a social democratic politician and author.
- Clemens Fahle (born September 5, 1856 in Attendorn; † 1933) was a lawyer and member of the German Reichstag.
- Werner Figgen (born November 9, 1921 in Neheim-Hüsten ; † April 12, 1991 in Hamm) was a politician ( SPD ), u. a. State chairman and state minister in North Rhine-Westphalia .
- Andrea Fischer (born January 14, 1960 in Arnsberg ) is a former politician ( Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen ) and was Federal Minister of Health from 1998 to 2001 .
- Otto Fischer (born March 30, 1853 in Lüdenscheid, † December 1, 1929 in Breslau) was a lawyer.
- Irmgard Franke-Dressler (* 1946 in Lüdenscheid) is a politician for the Greens.
- Caspar Dietrich von Fürstenberg (* March 6, 1615; † March 21, 1675) was a canon (most recently cathedral provost in Mainz), alchemist, cavalry foreman, artist and unsuccessful candidate for the election of Mainz elector.
- Franz Friedrich Wilhelm Freiherr von Fürstenberg (born August 7, 1729 in Herdringen Castle , Arnsberg , † September 16, 1810 in Münster ) was the most important statesman in the Duchy of Münster in the second half of the 18th century.
- Johann Wilhelm von Fürstenberg (* 1500 in Neheim, † 1568 near Jaroslaw (Russia)) was the penultimate Landmeister of the Teutonic Order in Livonia .
- Franz Geueke (born December 15, 1887 in Wormbach; † October 6, 1942 in the Groß-Rosen concentration camp) was a journalist and resistance fighter against National Socialism.
- Clemens Giese (born April 19, 1879 in Arnsberg; † February 5, 1961 in Arnsberg) was a staff veterinarian, employee in the Reich Health Office and Ministry of the Interior and one of the pioneers of German animal welfare.
- Hans Bernd Gisevius (born July 14, 1904 in Arnsberg, † February 23, 1974 in Müllheim) during National Socialism initially a member of the political police, later a resistance fighter of July 20, 1944.
- Albert Grün (born May 31, 1822 in Lüdenscheid, † April 22, 1904 in Strasbourg) was a revolutionary from 1848/49, teacher and author of various literary works.
- Winfried Hartmann (born May 8, 1936 in Arnsberg / Westphalia) is a politician (CDU).
- Wilhelm Hartnacke (born November 7, 1878 in Altena in the Sauerland, † 1952 in Schwefe) was a teacher and from 1933 to 1935 Minister of Culture of Saxony.
- Wilhelm Hasenclever (born April 19, 1837 in Arnsberg , † July 3, 1889 in Berlin-Schöneberg ) was a social democratic politician and co-founder of the SDAP and the newspaper Vorwärts .
- Norbert Hauser (born May 20, 1946 in Olpe) is a lawyer, politician (CDU) and former member of the German Bundestag.
- Walther Heide (born April 23, 1894 in Iserlohn; † missing since 1945) was a newspaper scholar and civil servant.
- Josef Hellermann (born September 1, 1885 in Altenilpe; † March 9, 1964) was a teacher, school councilor and Lord Mayor of Recklinghausen and a member of the state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Adolf Hennecke (born March 25, 1905 in Meggen , † February 22, 1975 in Berlin ) was a miner , "propaganda icon" of the activist movement in the GDR .
- Heinrich Freiherr von Heuel (born March 28, 1648 in Attendorn , † 1722 in Vienna ) was an ennobled diplomat and imperial councilor.
- Wilhelm Hoff (born August 21, 1851 in Hirschberg (Warstein), † August 8, 1940 in Berlin) was an organizer of the Prussian railways and minister for public works.
- Thomas Kemper (born December 4, 1951 in Schmallenberg-Oberkirchen) was State Secretary for Media and government spokesman in North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Johann Anton von Knecht (* December 24, 1741 in Braunshausen; † October 4, 1810 in Vienna) was the secret court secretary of Emperor Joseph II and had a considerable influence on this
- Kordula Kovac (born October 22, 1957 in Welschen Ennest) is a politician (CDU).
- Werner Kraus (born June 14, 1898 in Lüdenscheid; † November 12, 1964 in Rhumspringe) was a politician (KPD).
- Karl Lehr (* 1842 in Meschede ; † February 7, 1919 in Duisburg ) was a politician. From 1879 to 1914 he was Lord Mayor of the city of Duisburg.
- Justin Timotheus Balthasar von Linde (born August 7, 1797 in Brilon, † June 9, 1870 in Bonn ) was a university professor, civil servant and member of the Frankfurt National Assembly and the Federal Assembly.
- Wilhelm Lindner (born October 11, 1884 in Iserlohn; † September 10, 1956) was an editor, managing director and politician.
- Josef Linhoff (born March 12, 1819 in Arnsberg, † September 27, 1893 in Münster) was a Prussian civil servant.
- Friedrich Wilhelm Lübke (born August 25, 1887 in Enkhausen near Sundern , † October 16, 1954 in Augaard ) was a politician ( CDU ), from 1951 to 1954 Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein .
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1994-034-22A%2C_Heinrich_L%C3%BCbke.jpg/170px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1994-034-22A%2C_Heinrich_L%C3%BCbke.jpg)
Heinrich Lübke (1959)
- Heinrich Lübke (born October 14, 1894 in Enkhausen / Sauerland, † April 6, 1972 in Bonn) was a politician (center, later CDU). He was Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Forests from 1953 to 1959 and Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1959 to 1969 .
- Ferdinand Freiherr von Lüninck (born August 3, 1888 in Ostwig, today Bestwig ; † November 14, 1944 in Berlin ), was a politician (DNVP), President of the Province of Westphalia and was executed in connection with July 20, 1944 .
- Hermann Freiherr von Lüninck (born May 3, 1893 in Ostwig, today to Bestwig, in Westphalia, † May 16, 1975 in Alsbach near Engelskirchen) was an administrative lawyer and agricultural functionary.
- Rainer Lux (born March 3, 1951 in Arnsberg-Voßwinkel) is a CDU politician.
- Benjamin Mikfeld (born October 16, 1972 in Lennestadt ) is a graduate social scientist and politician ( SPD ). He was federal chairman of the Jusos .
- Georg Milbradt (born February 23, 1945 in Eslohe ), Prime Minister of Saxony (CDU).
- Karl Minnigerode (born August 6, 1814 in Arnsberg, † October 13, 1894 in Alexandria (Virginia)) was a revolutionary and preacher.
- Erik Nölting (born November 20, 1892 in Plettenberg, † July 15, 1953) was a university professor, politician ( SPD ), Member of the Bundestag , MdL ( Prussia , North Rhine-Westphalia ) and Minister of Economics of North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Friedrich Georg Pape (* July 3, 1763; † May 11, 1816) was initially a member of the Premonstratensian Order and was later one of the German Jacobins of the Republic of Mainz.
- Hartmut Plaas (born October 11, 1899 in Arnsberg; † July 19, 1944 in the Ravensbrück concentration camp) was a völkisch national-revolutionary author who was shot by the Gestapo after ties to the resistance.
- Otto Plassmann (born April 25, 1861 in Arnsberg, † June 26, 1932 in Emden) was a lawyer and the first mayor of the city of Paderborn.
- Christoph Friedrich Steffen von Plettenberg (born November 30, 1698 in Plettenberg ; † March 17, 1777 at Haus Heyde near Unna) was a Prussian lieutenant general.
- Gottfried von Rodenberg (actually Gottfried VII. Von Rüdenberg) was Commander of the Teutonic Order and Land Marshal in Livonia in the first half of the 15th century.
- Gottfried Ruegenberg (born April 2, 1845 in Olpe; † January 16, 1909) was a doctor and member of the Center Party.
- Thomas Schäfer (born February 22, 1966 in Hemer; † March 28, 2020 in Hochheim) was a Hessian politician (CDU) and finance minister there (2010-2020)
- Josef Schüttler (born December 11, 1902 in Fredeburg, today Bad Fredeburg, town of Schmallenberg , † October 7, 1972 in Singen (Hohentwiel) ) was a CDU politician and Minister of Labor in Baden-Württemberg .
- Emil von Schwartzkoppen (born January 15, 1810 in Obereimer near Arnsberg, Westphalia, † January 5, 1878 in Stuttgart) was a royal Prussian infantry general and commanding general.
- Bernhard zu Solms-Laubach (born March 4, 1900 in Arnsberg; † March 13, 1938 in Berlin) was a Hessian politician (NSDAP) and a former member of the state parliament of the people of Hesse in the Weimar Republic.
- Christof Sommer (born May 18, 1965 in Nuttlar, today Bestwig) is a politician (CDU).
- Heinrich Stakemeier (born January 10, 1921 in Eversberg; † March 2, 1992) was a lawyer, administrative officer and politician (FDP).
- Hans-Dieter Steinbach (born March 21, 1952 in Lüdenscheid) is a diplomat and has been an ambassador to Kosovo since 2008.
- Franz Tillmann (born December 23, 1905 in Niedernhöfen (today Neuenrade), † August 16, 1979 in Düsseldorf) was a civil servant, most recently State Secretary and head of the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia as well as an industrial representative.
- Carl Wilhelm Tölcke (born May 31, 1817 in Eslohe ; † November 30, 1893 in Dortmund ) was a social democratic politician, "father of the Westphalian social democracy" and president of the ADAV .
- Klaus-Dieter Uelhoff (born January 9, 1936 in Finnentrop ) is a politician ( CDU ) and was a member of the Bundestag for a constituency in Rhineland-Palatinate .
- Theodor Ferdinand Ulrich (born October 9, 1825 in Arnsberg; † August 8, 1896 in Clausthal) was a metallurgical expert and a politician of the Center Party.
- Wilhelm Ulrich (born July 22, 1817 in Arnsberg; † 1872) was a Prussian ministerial official. For many years he was a high-ranking employee of the Catholic department of the Prussian Ministry of Culture. He was also a member of the Center Party.
- Friedrich Karl Hermann Georg von Viebahn (born November 15, 1840 in Arnsberg , † December 15, 1915 in Berlin-Dahlem ) was a Prussian general.
- Gerhard Vigener (born October 27, 1946 in Attendorn) is a legal scholar and politician (CDU). From May 2008 to November 2009 he was Minister for Justice, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of the Saarland.
- Sascha Vogt (born July 13, 1980 in Iserlohn) is a politician (SPD). From June 2010 to September 2013 he was federal chairman of the Jusos .
- Eugen Weigel (born August 30, 1903 in Lüdenscheid; † March 27, 1988) was a Hessian politician (SPD) and a former member of the state assembly of Greater Hesse that advised the constitution.
- Franz Graf von Westphalen zu Fürstenberg (* February 2, 1864 at Laer Castle; † May 31, 1930 in Münster) was district administrator of the Münster district.
- Wilhelm Winzer (born February 3, 1878 in Bamenohl near Finnentrop, † March 19, 1957 in (West) Berlin) was a trade unionist, cooperative and social democratic politician.
- Margareta Wolf (born May 26, 1957 in Lennestadt ) is a politician ( Alliance 90 / The Greens ). She was parliamentary state secretary in the Schröder cabinet.
- Michael Wurm (born October 5, 1945 in Welschen Ennest; † September 1, 2016 in Russe , Bulgaria ) was a lawyer who was a judge at the Federal Court of Justice from 1988 to 2008
religion
- Theresia Albers (born August 5, 1872 in Schmallenberg-Dornheim, † January 21, 1949 in Hattingen-Bredenscheid) was a teacher and founder of the order.
- Angela Autsch (born March 26, 1900 in Röllecken near Attendorn; † December 23, 1944 in Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp) was a nun of the Trinitarian order who died in Auschwitz concentration camp.
- Bernhard Bartmann (born May 26, 1860 in Madfeld (now Brilon), † August 1, 1938 in Paderborn) was a Roman Catholic dogmatist.
- Arnold von Berg († December 15, 1190 before Akkon) was Bishop of Osnabrück from 1173.
- Hans-Josef Becker (born June 8, 1948 in Belecke / (Warstein)) is Archbishop of Paderborn .
- Willibrord Benzler (born October 16, 1853 in Niederhemer, † April 16, 1921 in Baden-Baden) was Bishop of Metz from 1901 to 1919.
- Heinrich von Bilstein († around 1261) was provost of the St. Severin monastery in Cologne.
- Wunibald Maria Brachthäuser , born March 16, 1910 in Küntrop, † February 16, 1999 in Cologne, Catholic clergyman, 1950–58 Provincial of the Dominican Order (Teutonia province), cathedral preacher in Cologne, long-time confessor of Cardinal Joseph Höffner .
- Carl Brockhaus (born April 7, 1822 in the Plettenberg district of Himmelmert, † May 9, 1899 in Elberfeld) was an elementary school teacher and leading figure in the Christian Assembly , editor of the Elberfeld Bible .
- Johannes Burckhardt (born October 20, 1853 in Altena (Westphalia); † January 27, 1914 in Berlin) was a Protestant pastor and founder of the first Protestant station mission in Germany.
- Aloys Butzkamm (born February 14, 1935 in Elben; † December 28, 2016 in Dortmund) was a German Roman Catholic theologian, priest, psychologist and art historian.
- Paul Josef Cordes (born September 5, 1934 in Kirchhundem) is a Roman Catholic Cardinal and President of the Papal Council Cor Unum .
- Franz Anton von Dücker (born December 28, 1700 in Arnsberg, † December 24, 1752 in Cologne) was a priest and canon in Cologne.
- Rupert Erythropel (* 1556 in Schmallenberg; † October 7, 1626 in Hanover) was a Protestant pastor.
- Erich Feldmann (born May 9, 1929 in Bamenohl; † December 27, 1998 in Münster) was a Catholic priest, church historian and Augustine researcher.
- Josef Freisen (born September 14, 1853 in Warstein, † February 5, 1932 in Würzburg) was a Catholic theologian, university professor and canon lawyer.
- Josef Freusberg (born October 18, 1881 in Olpe; † April 10, 1964 in Erfurt) was provost and auxiliary bishop in Erfurt.
- Bernhard Frick (* around 1600 in Hachen; † March 31, 1655 in Paderborn) was vicar general and auxiliary bishop in Paderborn and Hildesheim.
- Johann Gottfried von Fürstenberg (born February 1, 1579 in Bilstein; † September 11, 1624 near Siegen) was canon, president of the Electoral Mainz Council and applicant for the office of coadjutor in the Archdiocese of Paderborn.
- Wilhelm von Fürstenberg (born November 13, 1623 in Bilstein; † May 2, 1699 in Salzburg) was a diplomat in the service of Bishop Christoph Bernhard von Galen, secret chamberlain and advisor to several popes, provost in Münster and cathedral dean in Salzburg.
- Friedrich Anton Gelshorn (born May 8, 1814 in Winterberg; † June 3, 1875 in Wiesbaden) was a Catholic priest and politician.
- Heinrich Giese (born October 1, 1863 in Arnsberg-Voßwinkel, † June 19, 1937 in Mödling), Catholic clergyman, councilor in Vienna, president of the Caritas Association of the Archdiocese of Vienna .
- Gottfried von Arnsberg (* around 1285; † 1363) was Bishop of Osnabrück until 1348 and then Archbishop of Bremen.
- Paul-Heinz Guntermann (born December 14, 1930 in Fredeburg, † May 3, 2006 in Cologne) was a consultant in the Catholic Foreign Secretariat of the German Bishops' Conference and was its director from 1981 to 1993.
- Siegfried Heimberg (born September 9, 1898 in Madfeld (today Brilon), † October 20, 1965 in Dortmund) was chairman of the Jewish community of Westphalia-Lippe.
- Franz Cardinal Hengsbach (born September 10, 1910 in Velmede, † June 24, 1991 in Essen ) was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Essen .
- Franziskus Hennemann (born October 27, 1882 in Holthausen / Schmallenberg, † January 17, 1951 in Cape Town) was a mission bishop.
- Augustin Henninghaus (born September 11, 1862 in Menden; † July 20, 1939 in Yenchowfu, China) was a missionary and bishop.
- Karl Hesse (born August 15, 1936 in Voßwinkel, Arnsberg) is Archbishop of Rabaul , Papua New Guinea .
- Franz Heat (born March 16, 1851 in Hanemicke near Olpe , † July 20, 1921 in Bad Nauheim) was a Catholic theologian and politician of the Center Party
- Gottfried Hoberg (born November 9, 1857 in Heringhausen; † January 19, 1924 in Freiburg im Breisgau) was a Catholic theologian, philologist, priest and university professor.
- Wilhelm Sabri Hoffmann (* 1953 in Neheim-Hüsten), long-time chairman of the Christian-Islamic Society .
- Johann Friedrich Adolf von Hörde (born December 5, 1688 in Schönholthausen; † August 3, 1761) was auxiliary bishop in Osnabrück and apostolic vicar of the north.
- Wilhelm Hohoff (born February 9, 1848 in Medebach, † February 10, 1923) was a Catholic priest and Marx expert.
- Rötger Hundt (born November 21, 1711 in Olpe; † April 6, 1773 in Lisbon, Portugal) was a theologian and martyr .
- Konrad von Arnsberg (* unknown, probably in Arnsberg, † 1433) was auxiliary bishop in Cologne.
- Franz Dietrich Joseph von Landsberg zu Erwitte (* August 21, 1659, presumably in Arnsberg [1]; † August 25, 1727 in Hildesheim) was canon of various cathedral churches and politician in the Hildesheim monastery.
- Rupert Lay (born June 14, 1929 in Drolshagen) is a philosopher and theologian.
- Wilhelm Liese (born April 27, 1876 in Würdinghausen, † March 19, 1956 in Paderborn) was a Catholic priest, writer, editor and archivist.
- Benedikt Lindemann OSB (* 1958 in Welschen Ennest (Kirchhundem)) is abbot of the Benedictine abbey Hagia Maria Sion in Jerusalem .
- Johannes Linneborn (born March 5, 1867 in the freedom Hagen near Sundern in the Arnsberg district; † January 22, 1933 in Paderborn) was a cathedral chapter and canonist.
- Elmar Nübold (born April 11, 1944 in Altenhundem) is a Roman Catholic theologian and priest.
- Norbert Peters (born August 5, 1863 in Sundern-Allendorf, † January 20, 1938 in Paderborn) was a Catholic priest and university professor.
- August Pieper (born March 14, 1866 in Eversberg (today Meschede), † September 25, 1942 in Paderborn ), was a theologian and chairman of the “People's Association for Catholic Germany”.
- Adolf von Pilgrim (born October 12, 1821 in Meschede, † December 23, 1909 in Minden) was a Prussian civil servant and free conservative politician.
- Thomas Pröpper (born October 6, 1941 in Balve; † February 10, 2015 in Münster) was a Catholic dogmatist and fundamental theologian .
- August Rauschenbusch (born February 13, 1816 in Altena; † December 5, 1899 in Wandsbek) was a Baptist theologian in Germany and the USA .
- Franz Heinrich Reusch (born December 4, 1825 in Brilon; † March 3, 1900 in Bonn) was a theologian and old Catholic church historian .
- Joseph Rebbert (born May 19, 1837 in Winterberg, † July 13, 1897 in Paderborn) was a Catholic priest. By publishing numerous anti-Jewish inflammatory pamphlets, he promoted anti-Semitism.
- Johannes Rosenthal , as Bishop John Baptist Rosenthal (born March 17, 1903 in Olpe-Oberveischede; † May 22, 1975 ibid.) Was a Pallottine priest and first bishop of the Queenstown diocese in Queenstown, South Africa.
- Heinrich Schauerte (born November 17, 1882 in Schmallenberg-Nordenau, † August 6, 1975 in Schmallenberg-Fredeburg) was professor of religious folklore and first chairman of the Sauerland Heimatbund.
- Paul-Werner Scheele (born April 6, 1928 in Olpe; † May 10, 2019 in Würzburg) was a theologian and university professor, auxiliary bishop in Paderborn and bishop of Würzburg.
- Theodor Schmalenbach (born September 10, 1831 in Herscheid, † February 7, 1901 in Bethel) was a Protestant theologian.
- Heinrich Schulte (born February 13, 1804 in Allagen, † August 16, 1891 in Paderborn) was a Catholic priest, cathedral capitular and reign of the seminary in Paderborn.
- Johann Friedrich von Schulte (born April 23, 1827 in Winterberg, † December 19, 1914 in Obermais near Meran) was professor of civil law, canon law and legal history in Bonn and Prague, a leading figure among Old Catholics and politicians (member of the Reichstag).
- Karl Joseph Cardinal Schulte (born September 14, 1871 in Haus Valbert near Oedingen (Meschede district), † March 10, 1941 in Cologne), was Bishop of Paderborn from 1910 to 1920 and Archbishop of Cologne from 1920 to 1941.
- Ferdinand August von Spiegel zum Desenberg and Canstein (born December 25, 1764 at Canstein Castle near Marsberg, † August 2, 1835 in Cologne) was Archbishop of Cologne from 1824 to 1835 .
- Eduard Stakemeier (born June 9, 1904 in Müschede, † December 30, 1970 in Würzburg) was a Catholic priest and professor of theology.
- Franz Stock (born September 21, 1904 in Neheim; † February 24, 1948 in Paris) was a Catholic priest and is considered a pioneer of German-French friendship.
- Maria Elisabeth Stracke (born July 11, 1883 in Rahrbach, now Kirchhundem, † November 28, 1963 in Kitega, Burundi) was a missionary and founder of the order.
Literature, art and culture
- Lioba Albus (born September 27, 1958 in Attendorn ) is an actress and cabaret artist.
- Bertha Arndts (born December 9, 1809 in Arnsberg; † May 10, 1859 in Hütteldorf near Vienna) was a writer.
- Thomas Astan (* 1942 in Schmallenberg - Wormbach , maiden name: Thomas Gnacke) is a priest and former actor.
- Heinrich Bals (born October 18, 1868 in Oberalbaum, now Kirchhundem ; January 21, 1952 in Unna ) was a teacher and writer.
- Josef Baumhoff (born September 10, 1887 in Finnentrop, † 1962) was a civil servant, newspaper editor and politician of the Center Party.
- Martin Becker (born November 2, 1982 in Attendorn) is a writer, journalist and radio play author.
- Wolfgang Becker (born June 22, 1954 in Hemer ) is a film director , a. a. Good bye Lenin! .
- Daniel Beckmann (born May 6, 1980 in Attendorn) is an organist.
- Matthias Beckmann (born May 6, 1965 in Arnsberg) is a draftsman and graphic artist.
- Josef Bergenthal (born November 1, 1900 in Oberschledorn, today the city of Medebach, † August 24, 1982 in Münster) was a writer and an intellectual supporter of the regime during the Nazi era.
- Matthias Beule (born September 26, 1877 in Grevenbrück in the Olpe district; † August 24, 1921 in Kreuzburg, Upper Silesia) was a sculptor.
- Christa Biederbick (* 1940 in Balve, Westphalia) is an artist.
- Monika Bohge (* 1947 in Lüdenscheid) is a teacher and author.
- Friedrich Moritz von Brabeck (born January 27, 1742 at Gut Letmathe near Iserlohn, Westphalia, † January 8, 1814 at Söder Castle near Holle, Hildesheim district) Canon of Hildesheim and Paderborn, was an art connoisseur and collector.
- Franz Bubenzer (born May 3, 1872 in Lüdenscheid; † August 3, 1934 in Hanover) was an architect, portrait painter, actor and director.
- Wolfgang Büld (born September 4, 1952 in Lüdenscheid) is a film and television director and author.
- Jochen Busse (born January 28, 1941 in Iserlohn ) is an actor and cabaret artist .
- Fritz Cremer (born October 22, 1906 in Arnsberg ; † September 1, 1993 in Berlin) was a sculptor , graphic artist and draftsman , later Vice President of the Academy of Arts of the GDR .
- Sonia Farke (born January 6, 1969 in Sauerland) is an actress.
- Heinz Feuerborn (born May 16, 1930 in Hemer, Iserlohn district; † September 1, 2018 in Bonn-Bad Godesberg) was a painter and sculptor from Bonn.
- Johann Joseph Freidhoff (born February 12, 1768 in Heggen, † March 14, 1818 in Berlin) was a draftsman, engraver and mezzotint artist.
- Hajo Gies (born March 16, 1945 in Lüdenscheid) is a film and television director and brother of Martin Gies.
- Martin Gies (born November 2, 1951 in Lüdenscheid) is a director and screenwriter and brother of Hajo Gies.
- Frieda Grafe (born August 20, 1934 in Mülheim , † July 10, 2002 in Munich) was a film critic , film essayist and translator .
- Christiane Grefe (* 1957 in Lüdenscheid) is a journalist and author of numerous non-fiction books.
- Friedrich Wilhelm Grimme (born December 25, 1827 in Assinghausen , † April 2, 1887 in Münster ) was a writer , local poet and botanist.
- Ulla Hahn (born April 30, 1945 in Brachthausen ) is a writer. She writes poetry and novels .
- Alexander Haindorf (born May 2, 1784 in Lenhausen (now Finnentrop), † October 16, 1862 at Gut Caldenhof near Hamm) was a doctor, Jewish reformer, psychologist, university lecturer, publicist, art collector and co-founder of the Westphalian Art Association.
- Christoph Hardebusch (born September 24, 1974 in Lüdenscheid ) is a writer .
- Adolf von Hatzfeld (born September 3, 1892 in Olpe ; † July 25, 1957 in Bonn ) was an expressionist poet.
- Gottfried Heine (born January 19, 1849 in Schmallenberg-Bödefeld, † September 1, 1917 in Münster) was a teacher, musician and author
- Johann Friedrich Hoffmann (born October 3, 1929 in Werdohl ; † February 22, 2015 in Düsseldorf ) was a tenor and philologist.
- Alfons Kaiser (born January 9, 1965 in Neheim-Hüsten in Sauerland) is a journalist.
- Stephan Kampwirth (* 1967 in Neheim-Hüsten) is a theater and film actor and voice actor.
- Franz Joseph Koch (born March 22, 1875 in Bracht; † October 23, 1947 in Medebach-Berge) was a teacher and author.
- Johann Rotger Köne (born August 14, 1799 in Schmallenberg-Berghausen, † November 12, 1860 in Münster) was a philologist, teacher, author and dialect researcher.
- Bernhard Kontarsky (born April 26, 1937 in Iserlohn) is a conductor, pianist and university professor.
- Alfons Kontarsky (born October 9, 1932 in Iserlohn; † May 5, 2010) was a pianist and university professor.
- Aloys Kontarsky (born May 14, 1931 in Iserlohn; † August 22, 2017) was a pianist and university professor.
- Jean Pierre Kraemer (born September 12, 1980 in Plettenberg) is a moderator and entrepreneur.
- Josef Kroll (born November 8, 1889 in Arnsberg; † March 8, 1980 in Duisburg-Rheinhausen) was a classical philologist.
- Gabriele Kuhnke (born June 19, 1946 in Olsberg) is a writer who is best known for her books for children and young people.
- Ruth Landmann (born February 7, 1912 in Brilon; † October 31, 2008 in Osnabrück) was a ceramist in the field of free artistic design in the field of building ceramics.
- Christel Lechner (born November 10, 1947 in Iserlohn) is an artist.
- Christian Linder (born February 9, 1949 in Lüdenscheid) is a writer, essayist, critic and radio play author.
- Peter Lohmeyer (born January 22, 1962 in Niedermarsberg ) is an actor.
- Alfons Lütkoff (born October 17, 1905 in Iserlohn , † January 16, 1987 in Kotzenbüll / Eiderstedt ) was a painter.
- August Macke (born January 3, 1887 in Meschede , † September 26, 1914 south of Perthes-les-Hurlus, Champagne ) was an Expressionist painter .
- Bernhard Menne (born September 3, 1901 in Fredeburg; † November 9, 1968 in Hamburg) journalist and publicist, a. a. Editor-in-chief of Welt am Sonntag
- Inge Meyer-Dietrich (born December 27, 1944 in Dahle, now Altena ) is an author of books for children and young people.
- Ioannis Milionis (* 1972 in Iserlohn) is a cartoonist / comic artist of Greek origin who grew up and lives in Germany.
- Mirjam Müntefering (born January 29, 1969 in Neheim ) is a writer.
- Ansgar Nierhoff (born October 1, 1941 in Meschede; † August 2, 2010) was a sculptor.
- Regina Nössler (* 1964 in Altenhundem / Sauerland) is an anthologist and writer for poems, short stories and novels.
- Martin Gustav Nottebohm (born November 12, 1817 in Lüdenscheid , † October 29, 1882 in Graz ) was a musicologist , composer and Beethoven researcher.
- Johann Bergmann von Olpe (* between 1455 and 60 in Olpe; died before February 20, 1532 in Basel) was a priest and publisher.
- Joseph Pape (born April 4, 1831 in Eslohe, † May 16, 1898 in Büren) was a lawyer and writer.
- Christoph Peck (* 1948 in Schmallenberg-Oberkirchen; † July 4, 2011 in Cologne) was a journalist and editor
- Armin Petras (* 1964 in Meschede ) is a theater director.
- Monica Pick-Hieronimi (born December 14, 1943 in Olpe ) is a soprano .
- Norbert Pielsticker (* 1952 in Brilon) is a freelance sculptor.
- Werner Pieper (* 1948 in Meschede ) is a media experimenter under the name The Grüne Kraft .
- Ari Plikat (born January 6, 1958 in Lüdenscheid) is a cartoonist and illustrator.
- Peter Prange (born September 22, 1955 in Altena ) is a writer .
- Kai Rautenberg (born November 5, 1939 in Arnsberg ; † May 29, 2013 in Berlin ) was a pianist and composer.
- Helmut Rellergerd (born January 25, 1945 in Altena ) is an author. He called the fictional character ghost hunter John Sinclair to life under the pseudonym Jason Dark .
- Franz Ritter (born February 15, 1803 in Medebach, † October 22, 1875 in Bonn) was a classical philologist.
- Sascha Rotermund (born June 13, 1974 in Arnsberg) is an actor, voice actor, radio play speaker and audio book interpreter.
- Harald Rüschenbaum (* 1956 in Arnsberg - Voßwinkel ), jazz musician, artist. Head of the Bavarian Youth Jazz Orchestra.
- Ulrich Schlotmann (born August 11, 1962 in Balve ) is a writer.
- Thore Schölermann (born September 26, 1984 in Iserlohn ) is an actor.
- Birgit Schrowange (born April 7, 1958 in Brilon ) is a television presenter.
- Eike Wilm Schulte (born October 13, 1939 in Plettenberg , Westphalia) is an opera singer with a baritone voice.
- Edgar Selge (born March 27, 1948 in Brilon ) is an actor .
- Carl Siebert (born January 15, 1922 in Schmallenberg; † January 4, 2012 in Paris) was a painter, engraver and sculptor.
- Franz Siepe (born January 18, 1955 in Nuttlar ; † July 1, 2013 in Marburg ) was a publicist.
- Friedrich Sieburg (born May 18, 1893 in Altena ; † July 19, 1964 in Gärtringen / Württemberg) was a journalist, writer and literary critic .
- Jana Thies (born January 24, 1973 in Lüdenscheid) is an actress.
- Armin Turk (born August 4, 1943 in Werdohl; † June 13, 2013 in Velbert) was a painter.
- Anke Velmeke (born October 22, 1963 in Olsberg / Sauerland) is a writer.
- Jürgen Wassmuth (born February 20, 1955 in Balve) is a photographer.
- Udo Weinbörner (born February 9, 1959 in Plettenberg, Sauerland) is a writer.
- Bernd Witthüser (born February 29, 1944 in Winterberg ; † August 4, 2017) was a folk musician.
science and technology
- Manfred Balkenohl (* 1936 in Arnsberg) is a Catholic theologian.
- Joseph Bender (born July 31, 1815 in Meschede; † December 8, 1893 in Braunsberg in East Prussia) was a university professor and historian.
- Joseph Ernst Berghoff (born May 3, 1888 in Schmallenberg; † before 1919) was a philologist.
- Friedrich Beurhaus (born November 10, 1536 in Imecke near Meinerzhagen, † August 6, 1609 in Dortmund) was a humanist and rector of the grammar schools in Unna and Dortmund.
- Harald Biermann (* 1966 in Rüthen) is a historian.
- Herwig Blankertz (born September 22, 1927 in Lüdenscheid , † August 26, 1983 in Münster ) was an influential professor of education .
- Bernhard Danckelmann (born April 5, 1831 in the forester's house Obereimer near Arnsberg, † January 19, 1901 in Eberswalde) was a forest clerk and forest scientist. From 1866 he was head of the Eberswalde Forest Academy.
- Arthur Deicke (born January 18, 1882 in Altena, † March 9, 1958 in Munich) was a designer of engines, motorcycles, speedboats and airplanes.
- Anton Deimel (born December 5, 1865 in Olpe, † August 7, 1954 in Rome) was an ancient orientalist, Jesuit and theologian.
- Heinrich Döpp-Vorwald (born April 25, 1902 in Oberkirchen, † August 23, 1977 in Schmallenberg-Fredeburg) was an educationalist, philosopher, author and university professor.
- Heinz-Dieter Ebbinghaus (born February 22, 1939 in Hemer, Westphalia) is a mathematician who v. a. works on mathematical logic.
- Jochen Feldmann (born August 3, 1961 in Olpe ) is a physicist.
- Reiner Feldmann (born February 22, 1933 in Bösperde; † October 6, 2014) was a biologist and university professor.
- Dorothee Gall (born June 22, 1953 in Balve) is a classical philologist.
- Ferdinand M. Gerlach (born February 8, 1961 in Marsberg) is a doctor and scientist.
- Friedrich Gerlach (born April 29, 1856 in Giershagen, † September 30, 1938 in Wiesbaden) was a secret building officer, university professor and member of the Prussian state parliament.
- Heinrich Grell (born February 3, 1903 in Lüdenscheid, † August 21, 1974 in Berlin) was a mathematician who dealt with algebra.
- Wilhelm Grenzmann (born July 24, 1902 in Iserlohn, † August 30, 1967 in Siegburg) was a Germanist and literary scholar
- Otto Hellinghaus (born March 23, 1853 in Drolshagen , † August 26, 1935 Münster ) was a philosopher, writer and teacher.
- Rüdiger Höffer (born November 12, 1961 in Attendorn ) is a university lecturer in civil engineering.
- Albert K. Hömberg (born February 3, 1905 in Witten; † January 29, 1963 in Telgte) was a historian and author.
- Wildor Hollmann (born January 30, 1925 in Menden / Sauerland) is a doctor (university professor), researcher and manager.
- Alfred Hueck (born July 7, 1889 in Lüdenscheid; † August 11, 1975 in Munich) was a legal scholar and one of the most important lawyers of the first half of the 20th century.
- Wilhelm Kathol (born November 1, 1854 in Berlar, † April 24, 1944 in Thalfang im Hunsrück) was a technician and chemist.
- Siegfried Kessemeier (born November 20, 1930 in Oeventrop, † November 1, 2011 in Münster) was a Westphalian regional historian, dialect poet and museum curator.
- Antonius Kettrup (born March 26, 1938 in Arnsberg) is a chemist and university professor.
- Johann Rotger Köne (born August 14, 1799 in Schmallenberg-Berghausen, † November 12, 1860 in Münster) was a philologist, teacher, author and dialect researcher.
- Norbert Lossau (born June 20, 1962 in Meschede) is a librarian. He has been the director of the Goettingen State and University Library (SUB) since 2006.
- Hubert Mohr (born May 3, 1914 in Altenhundem; † January 22, 2011 in Potsdam ) was a Pallottine and later historian.
- Florentine Mütherich (born January 26, 1915 in Bestwig / Ruhr, † June 12, 2015 in Munich ) was an art historian who was particularly concerned with illumination of the early Middle Ages.
- Ludwig Nohl (born December 5, 1831 in Iserlohn , † December 15, 1885 in Heidelberg ) was a musicologist .
- Johann Caspar Nückel (* 1753 in Schmallenberg-Oberkirchen, † August 18, 1814 in Cologne) was a lawyer, councilor and university professor.
- Alexander Pfänder (born February 7, 1870 in Iserlohn , † March 18, 1941 in Munich ) was a philosopher .
- Franz Pöggeler (* December 23, 1926 in Letmathe; † October 31, 2009 in Aachen) was a professor of education, whose focus and special merits were primarily in the areas of adult education as well as leisure and adventure education.
- Otto Pöggeler (born December 12, 1928 in Attendorn / Westphalia, † December 10, 2014 in Bochum ) was a philosopher.
- Hans Prinzhorn (born June 8, 1886 in Hemer , † June 14, 1933 in Munich ) was a psychiatrist and art historian .
- Johann Stephan Pütter (born June 25, 1725 in Iserlohn ; † August 12, 1807 in Göttingen ) was a constitutional law teacher and publicist .
- Gerhard Quinkert (born February 7, 1927 in Lüdenscheid; † May 6, 2015) was a chemist.
- Oscar Reuther (born October 20, 1880 in Hemer, † August 5, 1954 in Heidelberg) was a building researcher.
- Johannes Rivius (born August 1, 1500 in Attendorn , † January 1, 1553 on his estate near Meißen ) was a pedagogue and theologian .
- Carl Ruberg (born March 26, 1892 in Niederhemer ; † August 6, 1985 in Bonn ) was a professor of business administration at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn .
- Rudolf Ruer (born September 30, 1865 in Ramsbeck / Westphalia, † August 1, 1938 in Aachen) was a chemist.
- Gertrud Savelsberg (born February 3, 1899 in Ramsbeck; † August 5, 1984 in Kiel) was a social scientist and deputy director of the library of the Institute for World Economy in Kiel.
- Max Schede (born January 7, 1844 in Arnsberg, † December 31, 1902 in Bonn) was a surgeon and professor of medicine in Bonn.
- Eugen Schmalenbach (born August 20, 1873 in Halver- Schmalenbach, † February 20, 1955 in Cologne ) was an economist.
- Peter Schöttler (* 1950 in Iserlohn) is a historian who works mainly in France.
- Mena Schemm-Gregory (born November 11, 1976 in Plettenberg; † July 8, 2013 in Coimbra) was a paleontologist.
- Josef Schrudde (* May 12, 1920, Meschede ; † October 9, 2004) was a maxillofacial and plastic surgeon.
- Ferdi Schüth (born July 8, 1960 in Allagen , now Warstein ) is a chemist .
- Jan Erik Schulte (* 1966 in Letmathe, City of Iserlohn) is a historian with a research focus on the history of National Socialism and the Holocaust, international history and contemporary Canadian history, and the culture of remembrance after 1945.
- Hans Schulte-Nölke (* 1963 in Brilon ) is a legal scholar.
- Hermann Tilke (born December 31, 1954 in Olpe) is a civil engineer, developer of Formula 1 racetracks and racing driver.
- Caspar Vopelius (* around 1511 in Medebach , † 1561 in Cologne ) was a mathematician, astronomer and cartographer.
- Ulrich Hans Walter (born February 9, 1954 in Iserlohn ) is a physicist and former astronaut .
- Johann Georg Weishaupt (born April 24, 1716 in Brilon; † September 20, 1753 in Heiligenthal near Würzburg) was Professor of Law at the University of Ingolstadt.
- Johann Benedikt Willmes (born October 28, 1743 in Schmallenberg-Oberfleckenberg, † May 1, 1823 in Cologne) was a lawyer, justice of the peace and university professor.
- Rudolf Winderlich (born May 26, 1876 in Iserlohn, † July 15, 1951 in Oldenburg) was a chemistry teacher, chemistry didactic and chemistry historian.
- Haidrun Wietler (born November 4, 1955 in Iserlohn) is a mineralogist.
- Johannes Wolburg (born February 7, 1905 in Reppen, † July 13, 1976) was a geologist and paleontologist. He was one of the early and pioneering pioneers in the field of micropalaeontology.
- Franz Wüllner (born November 27, 1798 in Sallinghausen near Eslohe, † June 22, 1842 in Düsseldorf) was a classical philologist, comparative linguist and grammar school director.
Business, unions and associations
- Julius Bamberger (born March 17, 1880 in Schmallenberg ; † January 16, 1951 in Los Angeles ) was a department store owner and persecuted by National Socialism.
- Eduard Bartling (born June 19, 1845 in Lenhausen, † 1927 in Wiesbaden) was an entrepreneur and politician.
- Detmar Basse (born April 6, 1764 in Iserlohn , † June 19, 1836 in Mannheim ) was an entrepreneur, diplomat, pioneer and art collector.
- Fritz Berg (born August 27, 1901 in Altena ; † February 3, 1979 in Cologne ) was an entrepreneur (manufacturing hospital beds) and the first president of the Federation of German Industries (1949–1971).
- Wilhelm Bonse-Geuking (born August 26, 1941 in Arnsberg, Sauerland) is a mining engineer and industry manager. He is the designated chairman of the coal foundation.
- Fritz Busch (manager) (born April 2, 1884 in Arnsberg; † December 22, 1958 in Arnsberg) was a railway manager. He was general director of the Deutsche Reichsbahn after 1945.
- Alfred Colsman (born May 7, 1873 in Werdohl; † January 9, 1955 there) was an engineer, manager of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH and later general director (CEO) of the Zeppelin factory in Friedrichshafen.
- Denis Feix (born October 22, 1975 in Werdohl) is a two-star chef.
- Roland Flach (born October 31, 1944 in Enkhausen) is an industry manager.
- Heinrich Heide (born December 24, 1846 in Obermarsberg, † December 13, 1931 in New York) was a German-American entrepreneur.
- Bertha Heimberg (born July 3, 1894 in Madfeld (now Brilon), † April 28, 1966 in Essen) was a free economist, economic politician and trade unionist.
- Claus Horstmann (born December 14, 1964 in Iserlohn) is a manager and has been chairman of the management board of 1. FC Köln GmbH & Co. KGaA since November 2011. [1]
- Franz Anton Lohage (born March 31, 1815 in Grevenstein, † April 22, 1872 in Unna) was an ironworker, chemist and inventor.
- Margret Moenig-Raane (born June 3, 1948 in Schmallenberg ) is trade unionist and was last chairman of the Union of Retail, Banking and Insurance (HBV) and is deputy chairman of the United Services Union ver.di .
- Franz Pieler (born May 11, 1835 in Arnsberg (Westphalia), † October 25, 1910 in Ruda (Upper Silesia)) was a mining specialist. He initially worked in the civil service, later switched to the private sector and for many years was general director of Franz von Ballestrem's estates and industrial plants.
- Franz-Georg Rips (born April 1, 1949 in Balve ) was director of the German Tenants' Association from 1995 to 2008 .
- Friedrich von Romberg (* around 1726 in Sundwig; † 1819 in Brussels) was a transport company, banker, factory owner and shipowner. Last but not least, he was active in the transatlantic slave trade.
- Anton Schlueter (born June 13, 1867 in Brilon ; † March 2, 1949) was an entrepreneur and tractor manufacturer.
- Hugo Schultz (born November 6, 1838 in Iserlohn, † June 16, 1904 in Wildbad) was a politician and one of the great personalities of mining in the Ruhr area.
- Fritz Selve (born January 20, 1849 in Lüdenscheid-Peddensiepen, † May 1, 1916 in Zurich) was an entrepreneur.
- Hubert Tigges (born October 20, 1895 in Förde-Grevenbrück (today Lennestadt in the Sauerland), † February 11, 1971 in Wuppertal) was a tour operator.
- Hans-Joachim Watzke , called "Aki", (born June 21, 1959 in Marsberg) is an entrepreneur and football official.
- Joachim Weckmann (* 1953 in Plettenberg ) is an entrepreneur.
Sports
- Bilal Akgüvercin (born July 12, 1992 in Brilon) is a German-Turkish soccer player who currently plays for Bucaspor.
- Michael Bartels (born March 8, 1968 in Plettenberg) is a racing driver and drove a. a. in Formula 1.
- Willi Bartels (born March 6, 1927 in Plettenberg; † February 22, 2005) was a racing driver and the father of Michael Bartels .
- Matthias Grothe (born May 16, 1978 in Hemer; † October 31, 2017) was a basketball player.
- Hermann Köhler (born January 12, 1950 in Niedermarsberg) is a former track and field athlete and Olympic participant.
- Dieter Lemke (born April 14, 1956 in Menden; † February 15, 2015 there) was a football player.
- Lars Marten (born March 23, 1984 in Lüdenscheid) is a football player. The defender is currently without a club.
- Sandra Neumann (born March 16, 1980 in Lüdenscheid) is a former sprinter.
- Nuri Şahin (born September 5, 1988 in Lüdenscheid) is a Turkish-German soccer player with Borussia Dortmund and in the Turkish national team.
- Udo Scholz (born April 15, 1939 in Lüdenscheid; † July 1, 2020 in Ludwigshafen am Rhein) was a stadium and hall spokesman.
- Rouven Schröder (born October 18, 1975 in Arnsberg) is a former soccer player who has been the sporting director of SpVgg Greuther Fürth since January 2013.
- Erik Weispfennig (born August 13, 1969 in Iserlohn) is a former cyclist.
- Stefan Windscheif (born September 10, 1987 in Iserlohn) is a volleyball and beach volleyball player.
Active in the Sauerland
Politics, rule and administration
- Dieter Aderhold (born November 27, 1939 in Heru-Juu, Tanzania; † June 19, 1989) was a university professor and politician (SPD) a. a. MdL (Lüdenscheid-Altena-Land II).
- Hermann Arendt (born January 23, 1898 in Dingelstädt, Province of Saxony, † June 28, 1966 in Hemer) was the first democratically elected mayor of the city of Hemer between 1946 and 1948.
- Ernst von Bayern (born December 17, 1554 in Munich, † February 17, 1612 in Arnsberg ) was Archbishop of Cologne and Elector of Cologne .
- Alfred Georg von Bake (born March 8, 1854 in Belgersheim near Leipzig; † April 12, 1934 in Freiburg im Breisgau) was the district president in Arnsberg.
- Konstantin Baumeister (born January 27, 1887 in Erp; † November 24, 1962 in Idar-Oberstein) was a teacher and social democratic politician.
- Ferdinand of Bavaria (born October 6, 1577 in Munich ; † September 13, 1650 in Arnsberg ) was elector and archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cologne and bishop of Hildesheim, Liège, Münster and Paderborn from 1612 to 1650.
- Friedrich von Bernuth (born February 10, 1757 in Kleve; † October 8, 1832 in Düsseldorf) was the first district president in Arnsberg.
- Karl Bick (born October 29, 1896 in Winkel, † October 17, 1949 in Arnsberg) was a trade unionist and communist politician.
- Hubert Biernat (born June 11, 1907 in Heeren ; † October 30, 1967 in Unna ) was a politician ( SPD ), district president in Arnsberg and interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Inge Blask (born November 26, 1959 in Castrop-Rauxel) is an SPD politician who has been a member of the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament since 2012. She moved into the state parliament as a directly elected member of the Märkischer Kreis II constituency.
- Karl Bode (born April 4, 1910 in Emden; † November 13, 1976 in Hemer) was Mayor of Hemer between 1956 and 1961. He was a member of the FDP.
- Ernst von Bodelschwingh (born November 26, 1794 at House Velmede near Unna , † May 18, 1854 in Medebach ) was a Prussian minister of state and district president in Arnsberg.
- Karl Bonstedt (born November 17, 1844 in Bromberg; † October 25, 1888 in Iserlohn) was Mayor of Iserlohn.
- Klaus Burda (born September 22, 1935 in Dresden; † March 31, 2007 in Hemer) was Mayor of Hemer for seven years between 1987 and 1994.
- Fredi Camminadi (born March 9, 1924 in Kulmbach) is the former mayor of Hemer and a member of the SPD.
- Franz Freiherr von Coels von der Brügghen (born January 27, 1858 in Aachen, † October 8, 1945 in Bückeburg) was the district president in Arnsberg.
- Günter Cronau (born March 16, 1931 in Siegen; † September 7, 2012 in Arnsberg) was the first city director of the new city of Arnsberg
- Johannes Franz August von Devivere (born November 3, 1798 in Lippstadt, † June 28, 1878 in Meschede) was a local politician and district administrator.
- Helmut Diegel (born March 30, 1956 in Hagen ) is a politician ( CDU ). He is the district president in Arnsberg.
- Dietrich II von Moers (* 1385; † 1463) was elector of Cologne. Under him, Arnsberg developed into the residence of the sovereign in the Duchy of Westphalia. In 1430 he gave Balve city rights.
- Anton Dinslage (* 1853; † 1922) was a lawyer and politician of the Center Party.
- Renate Drewke (born March 6, 1952 in Ennepetal ) is a politician ( SPD ) and was the district president of the Arnsberg district .
- Caspar Maximilian Droste zu Vischering-Padberg (born March 7, 1808 in Münster, † May 27, 1887 in Coburg) was district administrator for the Brilon district and a Prussian member of parliament.
- Maximilian Droste zu Vischering-Padberg (born February 20, 1781 in Münster, † August 31, 1845 in Hovestadt) was the first district administrator in the Brilon district.
- Hermann Dücker (* 1591; † March 4, 1670) was head waiter from the Electorate of Cologne-Westphalia, Landpfennigmeister and Drost of the Menden office.
- Lothar Eickhoff (* 1895 in Stettin; † 1970 in Lacco Ameno / Italy) was an administrative lawyer and a member of the NSDAP since 1931.
- Hans-Werner Ehrenberg (born August 30, 1952 in Castrop-Rauxel) is a teacher and politician (FDP).
- Günther Einert (born October 12, 1930 in Langenöls / Silesia ; † July 30, 2015) was a politician ( SPD ). He was Lord Mayor of Iserlohn and State Minister in North Rhine-Westphalia .
- Hubertus Freiherr von Elverfeldt (born March 8, 1902 in Breslau; † November 18, 1977) was a politician (CDU). From 1958 to 1970 he was a member of the state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Johann Nikolaus Emmerich (born June 7, 1791 in Groß-Umstadt, † August 14, 1868 in Arnsberg) was a senior geometer and conductor of the cadastral commission.
- Johann von Erwitte was Marshal of Westphalia around 1226.
- Michael Esken (born July 23, 1966 in Gütersloh, North Rhine-Westphalia) is the current full-time mayor of the city of Hemer. He is a member of the CDU.
- Hans Carl Federath (born October 27, 1848 in Culm, today Chełmno, † April 11, 1914 in Chiemsee) was a Prussian district administrator and owner of several ironworks.
- Karl Graf von Flemming (born December 18, 1783 in Crossen in the Kingdom of Saxony; † February 18, 1866 ibid.) Was the district president in Arnsberg.
- Fritz Fries (born March 3, 1887 in Siegen , † May 25, 1967 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen ) was a social democratic politician and, after the Second World War, district president in Arnsberg .
- Rolf Füllgränke (born April 8, 1929 in Gelsenkirchen; † November 23, 2008 in Arnsberg) was a CDU politician. He was first honorary district administrator of the former Arnsberg district and later of the Hochsauerland district.
- Friedrich von Fürstenberg (imperial baron since 1660) (born October 31, 1618 in Königstein; † July 7, 1662 at Herdringen Castle) was first canon, later heir to the family estate and councilor of the Duchy of Westphalia and diplomat from Cologne.
- Johannes Fusangel (born March 27, 1852 in Düsseldorf , † August 7, 1910 in Hagen ) was a politician (Center Party), journalist and newspaper editor. From 1893 to 1907 member of the Reichstag for the Arnsberg, Meschede and Olpe districts.
- Johann von Gaugreben (born February 22, 1848 in Konstanz, † January 11, 1912 in Bruchhausen an den Steinen) was a landowner and district administrator of the Brilon district.
- Gerberga of Burgundy (* 965 or 966; † July 7, 1019) was a daughter of King Conrad III. des Friedfertigen (Pacificus), Duke of Burgundy (Welfen), she was married to Hermann II von Werl.
- Richard Grünschläger (born September 17, 1929 in Witten) is a social democratic politician and was district president in Arnsberg.
- Albert Günther (born January 20, 1904 in Bochum; † September 14, 1980 in Brilon) was a local politician and honorary district administrator (CDU).
- Rudolf Gunst (born November 16, 1883 at Gut Hembsen near Brakel, † October 2, 1965 in Graefelfing) was a local authority official and activist of the Catholic peace movement.
- Johann V. von Hatzfeld (* before 1422, † 1482) was, among other things, Marshal of Westphalia at times.
- Johann Karl Heide (born June 20, 1897 in Itzehoe ; † May 3, 1974 in Arnsberg ) was a politician of the SPD and member of the Bundestag for the Arnsberg and Soest districts.
- Georg D. Heidingsfelder (born October 14, 1899 in Dinkelsbühl , † February 26, 1967 in Wennemen near Meschede ) was a Catholic opponent of the NSDAP and a critic of rearmament after the war.
- Nikolaus Hesse (* 1794 in Lichtenau, † 1868 in Brilon) was a civil servant before he emigrated to North America. After his return he was mayor of Brilon and a member of the Prussian National Assembly.
- Arnold von Hochstaden (partly also von Honstaden) (* and † unknown) was burgrave and marshal of Westphalia.
- Philipp von Hörde (* 1455; † June 28, 1510) was Lord of Boke Castle, Provost of the Cathedral in Münster and Landdrost of the Duchy of Westphalia.
- Willy Hoffmeister (born December 10, 1900 in Cronenberg; † November 8, 1971 in Lüdenscheid) was a local politician (CDU) and entrepreneur.
- Heinrich Friedrich August Itzenplitz (born February 23, 1799 in Groß Behnitz ; † February 15, 1883 at Gut Kunersdorf near Wriezen ) was a Prussian civil servant (until 1848 district president in Arnsberg), politician and minister.
- Heinrich Jansen (born April 5, 1876 in Lüdinghausen; † September 16, 1945 in Warburg) was a landowner and long-time district administrator in the Brilon district.
- Franz Wenzel von Kaunitz-Rietberg (* July 2, 1742 in Vienna; † December 19, 1825 there) was an Austrian general and last Landkomtur of the Westphalia Ballei of the Teutonic Order, based in the Kommende Mülheim.
- Georg Wilhelm Keßler (born March 24, 1782 Herpf near Meiningen , † May 18, 1846 in Berlin ) was a Prussian civil servant ( district president of Arnsberg ) and writer.
- Heinrich Klasmeyer (born December 2, 1887 in Gütersloh; † March 26, 1963 in Neheim-Hüsten) was a trade unionist for the Christian metal workers' association and a politician of the Center Party and the CDU.
- Josef Kleffner (born November 10, 1890 in Hagen, Westphalia; † March 15, 1966 in Dortmund, NRW) was a member of the state parliament in North Rhine-Westphalia and mayor of both the city of Hemer and the office of the same name for 16 years.
- Anna von Kleve († after 1377/1378, before May 1, 1392) from the house of the Counts of Kleve was Countess of Arnsberg by marriage.
- Max König (born May 3, 1868 in Halle (Saale) , † January 31, 1941 in Koblenz ) was a social democratic politician and from 1919 to 1933 President of the Arnsberg district .
- Hans Krüger (born July 6, 1902 in Neustettin / Hinterpommern , † November 3, 1971 in Bonn ) was a lawyer with a law firm in Olpe and a politician ( CDU ). Minister of expellees in the Erhard cabinet.
- Franz-Josef Leikop (born June 22, 1942 in Paderborn) is a CDU politician. He was initially an honorary and then a full-time district administrator of the Hochsauerlandkreis.
- Julius Lenzmann (born November 8, 1843 in Hagen; † March 21, 1906) was a lawyer and left-liberal politician
- Augustin Oswald von Lichtenstein -Karneid († 1663) was a colonel in imperial service during the Thirty Years' War and a member of the Teutonic Order.
- Felix von Lilien (born May 21, 1804 in Werl, † October 13, 1886 in Arnsberg) was the district administrator of the Arnsberg district.
- Detlef Lins (born December 29, 1965 in Bochum) is a politician (CDU). He is the full-time mayor of the Sauerland city of Sundern.
- Max Löcke (born November 14, 1850; † May 7, 1936 in Arnsberg) was Mayor of Arnsberg from 1879 to 1919. During his term of office numerous measures to modernize the city fall.
- Alfons Löseke (born April 26, 1932 in Holsen) is a politician and former member of the state parliament (CDU).
- Meinulf von Mallinckrodt (born September 14, 1861 in Düsseldorf; † November 27, 1947 in Böddeken) was district administrator for the Meschede district from 1897 to 1926
- Ferdinand Moritz von Mengersen (* 1706, † 1788) was Landkomtur of the Ballei Westphalia of the Teutonic Order as well as Conference Minister of Grand Master Karl Alexander von Lothringen and Elector General of Cologne.
- Hans Meyer (born July 11, 1914 in Krangen, Prussian Stargrad; † August 5, 2007 in Iserlohn) was the mayor of Hemer.
- Werner Möhl (November 2, 1927 - February 24, 2013) was a local politician and district administrator (SPD).
- Hagen Müller (born November 17, 1944 in Posen) is a politician and former member of the North Rhine-Westphalian state parliament of the SPD.
- Klaus Müller (born January 24, 1944 in Münster) is a lawyer and politician (CDU), 1999–2009 mayor of Iserlohn.
- Georg Levin von Nagel zu Vornholz (* May 10, 1658, † November 27, 1723 in Vechta) was an officer in various armies and Landkomtur of the Teutonic Order in the Westphalia region.
- Ullrich Nauck (* 1852; † 1923) was an administrative officer. He was district administrator in Iserlohn.
- Heinz Öhmann (born June 27, 1956 in Wettringen, Steinfurt district) has been acting mayor of Coesfeld since 2003 and former mayor of Hemer (1995 to 2003). He is a member of the CDU.
- Heidenreich von Oer (the Elder) (* around 1340; † around 1410) was an Elector of Cologne ministerial and temporarily Marshal of Westphalia and thus deputy to the archbishop in his capacity as Duke of Westphalia.
- Jaspar von Oer (also Caspar von Oer) († after 1518) was Landdrost of the Duchy of Westphalia.
- Christian Adolf Wilhelm Pilgrim (born September 21, 1785 in Königsborn , † 1856 in the Dortmund district ) was a Prussian civil servant (district administrator in the Medebach , Eslohe and Dortmund districts).
- Knut Friedrich Platz (* 1936) is a former administrative officer.
- Neveling von der Recke (partly also Neweling von der Recke) († 1591 in Rüthen) was from 1565 to 1591 Landkomtur of the Deutschordensballei Westphalia and Komtur der Kommende Mülheim.
- Ludwig von Renvers (born December 17, 1855 in Aachen, † April 17, 1936 in Arnsberg) was a Prussian civil servant.
- Wilhelm Rintelen (born April 13, 1797 at Gut Borgholz near Warburg, † October 28, 1869 in Münster) was a Prussian lawyer and politician
- Josef Roggenkamp (* May 21, 1897; † December 9, 1973 in Bonn) was a local politician and honorary district administrator (center and CDU).
- Alfred von Rosen (born April 30, 1825 in Segeberg (Holstein), † September 19, 1912 in Schleswig) was the district president in Arnsberg.
- Johann Georg von Schäffer-Bernstein (born May 31, 1757 in Rotenburg an der Fulda, † September 7, 1838 in Worms) was a lieutenant general in Hesse-Darmstadt. Among other things, he commanded the troops that occupied the Duchy of Westphalia in 1802.
- Udo Scheepers (born October 7, 1946 in Homberg; † April 22, 1986) was a politician and member of the state parliament (SPD).
- Friedrich von Scheibler (born March 1, 1777 in Monschau; † April 3, 1824 in Iserlohn) was a cloth manufacturer and mayor of Iserlohn.
- Georg Schenkel (born January 1, 1886 in Bielefeld, † November 14, 1954 in Iserlohn) was a politician of the FDP.
- Ernst Schlensker (born July 10, 1908 in Wattenscheid; † February 22, 1978) was a trade unionist, social democratic politician and district president in Arnsberg.
- Dagmar Schmidt (born April 8, 1948 in Herten ; † November 9, 2005 in Siegen ) was a politician ( SPD ) and member of the Bundestag for the Hochsauerland district .
- Karl Schuchart (born December 8, 1806 in Heiligenstadt, † October 10, 1869 in Iserlohn) was a member of the preliminary parliament in 1848 and played a central role during the Iserlohn uprising in 1849.
- Heinrich von Schultheiß (* 1580 in Scharmede near Salzkotten , † 1646 probably in Arnsberg ) was a notorious witch judge in Westphalia and especially in the Sauerland. But he became known as a witch theorist primarily through pamphlets in defense of witch trials.
- Patrick Sensburg (born June 25, 1971 in Paderborn) is a CDU politician and has been a member of the Bundestag for the Hochsauerlandkreis since 2009.
- Eberhard zu Solms-Lich (born February 11, 1530; † June 30, 1600 in Hirschberg) was Landdrost of the Duchy of Westphalia.
- Friedrich von Spankeren (born April 23, 1804 in Eupen; † March 21, 1886 in Bonn) was the district president in Arnsberg.
- Albert II von Störmede († probably 1290) was the Truchsess of the Lords of Lippe and Marshal of Westphalia.
- Max von Stockhausen (born February 11, 1890 in Koblenz, † January 31, 1971 at Gut Stockhausen near Meschede) was a lawyer and government official.
- Joseph Theodor zu Stolberg-Stolberg (born August 12, 1804 at Haus Lütkenbeck; † April 5, 1859 in Rumillies (Belgium)) was a landowner and politician.
- Wilhelm Stracke (born May 13, 1880 in Soest; † August 21, 1951 in Brilon) was a local politician and honorary district administrator (center).
- Gerhard Teriet (born January 9, 1917 in Gelsenkirchen, † 1995 in Arnsberg) was a CDU politician. He was mayor of the city of Arnsberg.
- Robert III von Virneburg was Count of Virneburg from 1308 to 1352 and Marshal of Westphalia from 1318 to 1331
- Fritz Vogt (born July 5, 1916 in Vorhalle; † April 10, 1996 in Lüdenscheid) was a politician of the FDP.
- Christel Hedwig Ernestine Vossbeck-Kayser (born June 1, 1961 in Recke (Westphalia)) is a politician (CDU).
- Hans Watzke (born March 4, 1932 in Bochum; † August 29, 2014 in Marsberg) was a CDU politician.
- Wilhelm Julius Reinhold Winzer (born December 30, 1834 in Minden; † March 12, 1919 in Minden) was a Prussian civil servant, last president of the district in Arnsberg.
- Carl Wiethaus (born February 19, 1809 in Hamm, † 1865 in Hohenlimburg) was a lawyer and member of the Frankfurt National Assembly.
- Philip-Ludwig Wolfart (born July 18, 1775 in Hanau; † March 6, 1855 in Potsdam) was the district president in Arnsberg.
- Dieter Wurm (born November 17, 1935 in Dinklage; † August 29, 2019) was a CDU local politician in the Hochsauerland district and chairman of the Westphalia-Lippe Regional Assembly
- Fritz Ziegler (born January 1, 1933 Gelsenkirchen) was district president in Arnsberg and chairman of the board of the VEW.
- Paul Ziemiak (born September 6, 1985 in Stettin) is a politician (CDU).
religion
- Heinz Josef Algermissen (born February 15, 1943 in Hermeskeil ) is Bishop Emeritus of Fulda and worked as a chaplain in Meschede.
- In his capacity as Cologne Vicar General, Johann Arnold de Reux visited almost the entire Duchy of Westphalia on extensive visits in 1716 and 1717.
- Caspar Berens (born April 24, 1836 in Kruberg; † May 16, 1912 in Rumbeck) was a Catholic clergyman, writer, poet of the Kolping Song and President of the Kolping Society.
- Harduin Bießle (born November 23, 1902 in Gotzing; † October 3, 1985 in Meschede) was the first abbot of the Benedictine Abbey of Königsmünster in Meschede.
- Caspar von Böselager (born July 3, 1687 at Gut Honeburg; † January 22, 1758 in Corvey) was Prince Abbot of Corvey from 1737 to 1758.
- Ambrosius Bruns (born May 5, 1678 in Borcholz; † August 21, 1730 in Grafschaft monastery) was abbot of Grafschaft Benedictine monastery from November 17, 1727 to August 21, 1730.
- Stephan Friedrich Evertsbusch (born January 12, 1813 in Barmen; † February 18, 1888 in Lennep) was a Protestant pastor and politician.
- Albert Florschütz (born July 30, 1819, † 1903) was a Protestant pastor and author.
- Joseph Abraham Friedländer (* 1753 in Kolin; † November 26, 1852 in Brilon) was a land rabbi for the Duchy of Westphalia and the Principality of Wittgenstein and a Jewish reformer.
- Ludwig Grona (Ludovicus Grona) (born January 29, 1700 in Borchholt; † August 7, 1765 in Grafschaft Abbey) was abbot of Grafschaft Abbey.
- Ferdinand Hasenclever (born March 2, 1769 in Remscheid, † May 30, 1831 in Arnsberg) was a Protestant pastor and consistorial councilor in the church and school department of the government in Arnsberg. He particularly distinguished himself as an educational reformer.
- Levi Lazar Hellwitz (born July 4, 1786 in Beverungen, † 1860 in Beverungen) was from 1825 to 1837 the head of the rural Jews of the Duchy of Westphalia. He was a representative of a liberal Reform Judaism.
- Heinrich Kampschulte (born March 28, 1823 in Wickede (Ruhr); † April 30, 1878 in Höxter) was a Catholic priest, Center Party politician and historian.
- Albert of Cologne (lat. Albertus de Colonia) († October 18, 1525) was abbot of the Grafschaft monastery from 1507 to 1525. Under him the monastery joined the Bursfeld congregation.
- Friedrich Kreilmann (born April 30, 1719 in Erwitte; † September 16, 1786) was abbot of the Grafschaft monastery from 1765 until his death.
- Wilhelm Kuhne (born September 10, 1926 in Lünen-Horstmar; † July 15, 2019 in Winterberg-Niedersfeld) was a Catholic priest, theologian and adult educator.
- Heinrich Marx (born November 21, 1885 in Henkenbrink, today a district of the city of Lügde; † August 8, 1971 in Bödefeld) was a priest and homeland researcher.
- Josias Poolmann (born January 10, 1687 in Otteler; † October 7, 1742) was abbot of the Grafschaft monastery from 1730 to 1742.
- Gottfried Reichmann (sometimes also called Richmann or Reickmann) († 1643) was abbot of the Premonstratensian monastery in Wedinghausen near Arnsberg from 1613 to 1643.
- Richard von Arnsberg († 1190 in Wedinghausen) was a Premonstratensian, religious author and is venerated as a blessed by the Catholic Church.
- Edmund Rustige (born February 14, 1746 in Erwitte; † June 21, 1816 in Warstein) was the last abbot of the Grafschaft monastery.
- Elisabeth Schache (born October 28, 1906 in Birnbaum / Province of Posen; † March 23, 1999 in Schmallenberg) was a nun (Sister Maria Kallista) and general procurator of the Order of the Sisters of Mercy of St. Karl Borromeo (head of the Grafschaft monastery).
- Gabel Schaffen (* 1582 in Warburg; † May 10, 1650 in Abdinghof Abbey) was abbot of Grafschaft Abbey from 1612 to 1632. He contributed significantly to the economic recovery of the community, but also to the spiritual return to the foundations of the Benedictine order.
- Alois Schröder (* 1942 in Paderborn) was Federal President of the Kolping Society of Germany from 1996 to 2008 . From 1972 to 1977 he was President of the Kolping Family in Schmallenberg, from 1985 to 1988 District President in the Brilon District Association. In 2004 Schröder was raised to monsignor .
- Godefridus Sittartz (* 1650 in Kempen; † 1718 in Cologne) was superior of the Jesuit mission in Arnsberg.
- Thomas Witt (born September 2, 1966 in Herne) is a Roman Catholic clergyman and cathedral chapter in the Archdiocese of Paderborn.
- Johannes Worth (* 1604 in Rietberg; † April 10, 1671 in Grafschaft Abbey) was abbot of Grafschaft Abbey from 1633 to 1671.
Literature, art, culture
- Friedrich Becker (artist) (born May 25, 1922 in Herdecke-Ende; † May 15, 1997 in Düsseldorf) was an artist, goldsmith and creator of "kinetic jewelry".
- Jochen Bludau (born July 2, 1941) is the managing director of the Elspe Festival as well as an actor, playwright and film producer.
- Hermann Broermann (born January 7, 1908 in Koblenz ; † April 3, 1995 in Grevenbrück ) was a painter (watercolor technique)
- Alwin Dossmann (born April 1, 1894 in Wiesenburg, † May 18, 1978 in Iserlohn) was an architect, writer and painter.
- Ernst Ehmsen (born December 15, 1833 in Rendsburg, † March 19, 1893 in Göttingen) was one of the founders of the Sauerland Mountain Association (SGV).
- Jānis Jaunsudrabiņš (born August 25, 1877 in Nereta ( southern Latvia ), † August 28, 1962 in Körbecke (Möhnesee) ) was a painter and one of the most important Latvian poets.
- The master of Iserlohn was a painter who probably worked in southern Westphalia in the middle of the 15th century.
- Hannes Pingsmann (born March 18, 1894 in Essen-Rüttenscheid; † September 27, 1955 in Essen) was a painter and graphic artist, lived and worked in Fretter in 1945 until his death .
- Hanna Rademacher (born December 15, 1881 as Johanna Franziska Leuchs in Nuremberg, † July 31, 1979 in Schmallenberg) was a writer.
- Martha Schlinkert , née Galinski, (born April 24, 1913 in Gelsenkirchen, † June 30, 1979 in Olsberg ) was a children's book author.
- Heinz Schüngeler (born February 21, 1884 in Brachelen, today in Hückelhoven; † February 16, 1949 in Schmallenberg-Fredeburg, Hochsauerland) was a music teacher, pianist and composer.
- Paul Seuthe (born May 20, 1909 in Hagen; † November 10, 1997 in Werdohl) was a painter and architect. His subject was mainly pictures of the Sauerland.
- Herbert Somplatzki (born December 19, 1934 in Groß Piwnitz, Poland) is an author.
- Michael Spanner († May 31, 1742 in Grafschaft Abbey) was a master bricklayer and architect of the Baroque era.
- Hermann Springborn (born July 4, 1905 in Freiburg im Breisgau; † January 13, 1964 in Oeventrop (Arnsberg)) was a painter of landscapes, still lifes and posters, decorator and caricaturist. He is considered a representative of post-impressionism.
- Kurt Wasserfall (born May 28, 1952 in Göttingen) is an author of books for children and young people.
- Heinz Waterboer (born December 6, 1907 in Breckerfeld, † November 8, 1990 in Arnsberg) was a painter and writer.
- Kurt Weill (born March 2, 1900 in Dessau , † April 3, 1950 in New York ) was a composer . He had his first engagement at the Stadttheater Lüdenscheid.
science and technology
- Thorsten Bagschik (* 1969) is an economist.
- Bernhard Bahnschulte (born January 29, 1894, † January 25, 1974) was a local researcher in the Sauerland.
- Johann von der Berswordt , Herr zu Hüsten, (* 1574 or 1578 in Dortmund; † February 24, 1640 in Hüsten) was a Westphalian historian.
- Gerhard Brökel (born January 22, 1931; † February 21, 2014) was a rector, local researcher, city historian and non-fiction author.
- Thomas Burgartz (born April 10, 1970) is an economist.
- Friedrich Busch (born July 4, 1851 in Recklinghausen, † August 30, 1931 in Arnsberg) was a high school teacher and meteorologist.
- Jörg Erpenbach (* 1966) is a university professor for marketing.
- Karl Féaux de Lacroix (born August 5, 1860 in Paderborn, † November 12, 1927 in Arnsberg) was a Westphalian homeland researcher.
- Stephan Form (born February 19, 1968) is an economist.
- Hans-Werner Graf is a computer scientist.
- Ludwig Hagemann (born November 30, 1859 in Frohnhausen / Westphalia; † November 18, 1941) was a Catholic pastor and local historian.
- Silke Hahn (* 1966) is a linguist and university lecturer. At the private University of Applied Sciences Business and Information Technology School in Iserlohn she is a lecturer for public relations and corporate communication.
- Wolfgang Jaspers is an economist and management consultant. At the private University of Applied Sciences Business and Information Technology School in Iserlohn he works as a lecturer in business administration.
- Gerhard Junge (born June 11, 1922 in Carlsruhe, Upper Silesia) is a philologist. As a Romanist and Germanist, he was most recently senior director of studies in Lennestadt.
- Andreas Kaiser is an economist.
- Gerhard Kleinsorgen (* 1530 in Bielefeld, † 1591 in Werl) was an electoral Cologne scholarly councilor for the Duchy of Westphalia and a historian.
- Ralf Lanwehr (born November 25, 1971 in Münster) is a business psychologist.
- Stefan Lennardt (born March 30, 1968) is a journalist, PR consultant and university professor.
- Thomas Meuser (born April 1, 1961) is an economist.
- Christoph Moss (born May 17, 1967 in Dortmund) is a journalist and university lecturer
- Jens Müller is a media and economist.
- Franz Ignatz Pieler (* 1797 in Soest; † September 16, 1883 in Dortmund) was a Westphalian regional historian.
- Frank Reinhardt (* 1965) is an economist and tax advisor.
- Thomas Rieger (born March 6, 1973 in Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia) is a university professor.
- Georg Friedrich Schade (born May 31, 1959 in Bonn) holds a doctorate in law and is a professor of civil law, as well as commercial law and business law.
- Roland Schröder (* 1963) is a media scientist.
- Martina Stangel-Meseke (* 1963 in Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia) is a psychologist.
- Johannes Stoll (born November 16, 1769 in Rotenburg an der Fulda, † September 30, 1848 in Arnsberg) was a doctor and medical officer.
- Michael Treier is a qualified psychologist.
- Ebbo Tücking (born February 9, 1969) is an economist and entrepreneur.
- Peter Vieregge (* 1966) is an economist.
- Jan Werner (born February 10, 1977 in Offenbach am Main, Hessen) is an economist.
- Axel Wullenkord (* 1961) is an economist and entrepreneur.
Business, unions and associations
- Hugo Bremer (born January 13, 1869 in Elberfeld, † April 19, 1947 in Neheim) was an industrialist and inventor of the so-called "Bremen Light".
- (Johann) Friedrich Wilhelm Brökelmann (born August 10, 1799 in Dortmund , † July 31, 1890 in Neheim ) was an entrepreneur.
- Egenolf Engelhard (born April 5, 1903 in Wiesbaden; † October 16, 1995 in Plettenberg) was an entrepreneur.
- Theodor Fleitmann (born August 20, 1828 in Schwerte; † October 25, 1904 in Iserlohn) was a chemist and entrepreneur.
- Peter Frielinghausen (* 1964 in Siegen, North Rhine-Westphalia) [1] is an economist. Since 2003 he has been a lecturer at the private Business and Information Technology School in Iserlohn.
- Carl Haber (born January 8, 1833 in Worbis, † May 17, 1914 in Bonn) was the mining and steel works director in Ramsbeck.
- Franz Horster (born September 9, 1887 in Kerpen, † September 15, 1953 in Altena) was an entrepreneur and politician (center).
- Karl Arnold von Hompesch (born April 28, 1736; † February 3, 1803 in Münster) was canon of various cathedral monasteries, provost and mining entrepreneur.
- Ida Kropff-Federath , birth name Ida Brüning, (born June 10, 1839 in Brakel, † June 1, 1918 in Olsberg) was the last sole owner of the Olsberger Hütte.
- Carl Overweg (born November 28, 1805 in Unna , † May 27, 1876 in Letmathe , today the city of Iserlohn) was a politician and industrialist.
- Ferdinand Möllmann (born January 2, 1791 in Lüttringhausen, † November 20, 1854 in Iserlohn) was a wholesaler and early industrialist.
- Anna Maria Theresia von der Recke zu Steinfurt (married from Landsberg zu Erwitte) (* 1710, † 1765) was the driving force behind the development of the coal and steel industry at Wocklum.
- Richard Schirrmann (born May 15, 1874 in Grunenfeld , Heiligenbeil district , East Prussia ; † December 14, 1961 in Grävenwiesbach , Taunus ) is the founder of the German Youth Hostel Association .
- Noah Wolff (also Noa Wolff) (* 1808 in Berleburg; † October 4, 1907 in Neheim) was an industrial pioneer in Neheim and an important representative of Judaism in the Sauerland.
Sports
- Gintaras Krapikas (born July 6, 1961 in Kretinga, Lithuania) is a former Lithuanian basketball player.
- Wilfried Lieck (born October 29, 1945 in Aalborg, Denmark) is a table tennis player.