In Beethoven’s time infant mortality was still very high. This is before sufficient sanitation, antibiotics or childhood disease vaccines.
Beethoven had seven siblings, plus one half brother from his mother’s previous marriage. From the eight children, six boys and two girls. Sadly, only two younger brothers lived through infancy, Karl and Johann.
All 8 siblings of Beethoven
From the first marriage of his mother
Johann Peter Anton Leym
Male
1764-1764
The Beethoven siblings
Ludwig Maria van Beethoven
Male
1769–1769
Ludwig Van Beethoven
Male
1770–1827
Kaspar Anton Karl van Beethoven
Male
1774–1815
Nikolaus Johann van Beethoven
Male
1776–1848
Anna Maria Franziska van Beethoven
Female
1779–1779
Franz Georg van Beethoven
Male
1781–1783
Maria Margaretha Josepha van Beethoven
Female
1786–1787
From the three brothers only one had a descendant, Karl van Beethoven. In 1917, the last Beethoven passed away without a continuing bloodline.
