ðɪ ˈɜːlɪɪst nˈoʊn ˈænsɛstɚɹ ɪz wˈʌn bˈɛnɪdˌɪkt vˈɑːn ˈɑːlɪfˌɛlt, dˈiː sˈiː wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd θɹˈiːhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi, hˌuːz sˈʌn ænd ɡɹˈændsʌnz sˈɜːvd kˈɪŋ wˈɔldᵻmɚɹ ʌv dˈɛnmɑːɹk ænd ɹᵻsˈiːvd sɪɡnˈɪfɪkənt pˈɔːn fˈiːfs ænd pɹˈɑːpɚɾiz ɪn dˈɛnmɑːɹk.
The earliest known ancestor is one Benedict von Ahlefeldt, (d c 1340), whose son and grandsons served King Waldemar of Denmark and received significant pawn fiefs and properties in Denmark.