 The Buxhoevedens, a Baltic German family from Estonia, traced their roots to Bexhövede in Lower Saxony.Buxhoevden's wife, countess Natalia Alexeyeva, was the illegitimate daughter of Grigori Orlov (1734–1783) by a lady of the court, but her mother – contrary to some claims – was not the Empress Catherine, but a member of the Apraksin family.Buxhoeveden's granddaughter Varvara Nelidova was a mistress of Nicholas I of Russia (1796-1855) for 17 years (1832-1855).