The ending of the name with "...hausen" indicates that Hildebrandshausen was founded already between the years 531 and 800. The shape of the village is that of a typical street-settlement. Meaning, creation and spelling of the name are interpreted as:

Hildebrandshausen:  Housing settlement of a Hildebrand,

Old Germanic: "hiltja" = fight, "brand" = sword

Early spelling:  Hildebrandishausen,  Hildebrandeshusen

1318

Before the Convent of Mainz under Archbishop Gerhard I. purchased the "Bischofstein" in 1326 the convent already owned some properties on the Southern Eichsfeld. These originated from donations from contemporary nobility - princes and counts. Thus the convent owned a lot of land around the former Stuffenberg (the later Huelfensberg) already before 1318. According to the Mainz public records the convent possessed a large farmstead in Hildebrandshausen in 1318.

Gottschalk of Plesse was introduced as guardsman on the castle of Stein to protect the early claims for the convent. The former boundary of Hesse ran right up to the "Peter's wood" below the castle Stein. This boundary was a thorn in the territory that Gerhard of Mainz wanted to purchase and extend to Treffurt. Gottschalk of Plesse fortified the boundary - the present "Keudelskuppe" - between 1251 and 1259 with a small fort, remains of which are still visible. This fort did not exist for long.

1384

a Hans of Keudel is mentioned whith the nickname "Füllekopf". This might be the origin of the nickname "Hilberschisser Fuellenbaeme".

1354-1792

In eventful history between 1354 and 1792 Hildebrandshausen was suppressed mainly by the lords of the manor Keudelstein.

1525

Their harsh regiment brought many people up against the Keudels. Following the records of the Lengenfeld parish priest Hahne, the maltreated peasants of Hildebrandshausen rose up against their feudal lords. Georg Vogt, Matthias Schlichting, Hans Beyn, Hans Heffener, Lorenz Erbach und Heinz Kreyer and their followers joined the revolting peasants of the Southern Eichsfeld and of the districts of Bischofstein and Greifenstein. They looted the monastery Anrede,  the farmstead of  the monastery Zella, the two manors in Diedorf and transported their loot on nine carriages to Goermar which was the main camp of Thomas Muentzer. They all must have perished in the battle of Frankenhausen as no offspring with these names can be found today in Hildebrandshausen.

1562

As a result of the Reformation almost the complete nobility joined the Protestants. The nobility followed the rule: “Whoever reigns the region, determines the religion.“ Thus Hildebrandshausen had a Protestant pastor with the name Nikolaus between 1562 – 1577.

1574

In the counter-reformation carried out by the Elector of Mainz, Archbishop Daniel Brendel v. Homburg, the elector himself visited the Eichsfeld and resided in Heiligenstadt. From here came the order to dismiss the protestant pastors. The decrees went to the priest Droessler of Lengenfeld to extradite the pastor Joh. Werner in Heyerode (introduced by the v. Berlepsch) and the pastor Nikolaus in Hildebrandshausen.

The Parish of Heyerode was even threatened with a penalty of 100 goldflorins if they should allow the pastor Werner back into the church. During the extradition it came to a shouting argument between Werner and priest Droessler. After the dismissal Hildebrandhausen returned as a subsidiary-parish to the parish of Lengsfeld to which it had belonged before.

1580

The Keudels must have been very harsh feudal lords. This is expressed in a document dated 1580 about the compulsory labour  to be fulfilled by the peasants of Hildebrandshausen: For each hide of land they had to pay 10 Schneeberger in tax, transport wood and building material to Schwebda, deliver the needed amount of hay, straw and grain to Keudelstein. Inhabitants without horses had to do two days of service whenever required. After the inhabitants complained that they were not allowed to sell, lease , exchange or even pass to their heirs their fields the lord eased the conditions in 1580. They were again allowed to sell, lease or pass on to their heirs, but only to locals.

1586

In 1586 Barlt von Keudel received one half of the penal jurisdiction. This penal court must have had its seat in Hildebrandshausen. According to the judicial record books Bischofstein, Hildebrandshausen must have been desolate until 1500. However, Alois Hoeppner doubts this. A part of Hildebrandshausen may have been desolate but then only the manor Keudel in 1525.

During the 30-years war Hildebrandshausen suffered so much that the number of fireplaces went from 52 down to 28. (Unser Eichsfeld 6; 211.)

1693

In 1693 the school of Hildebrandshausen was improved through a donation by the Elector of Mainz, Anselm Franz. (Hillmann in ,,Aus der Heimat" Nr.29 und Thiele 5. 6().f.).

1713

From 1671 the church entries of Hildebrandshausen were recorded in the parish of Lengenfeld and only since 1793 in Hildebrandshausen. The first church in Hildebrandshausen was built in 1713 and was dedicated to the „Finding of the Cross“.

1771-1773

A two-year famine had 46 inhabitants as victims. (Wollf)

1792

The lineage of the Keudels on Keudelstein ended with Walrab von Keudel on 9^th June 1792. The feudal tenure was not passed on to a new family anymore. It was united with Bischofstein.  The records of the Schwebda line show that the property consisted of 500 acres of forest, a house in Hildebrandshausen and land in Lengenfeld, Geismar and Toepfer. The annual income amounted to 1330 Imperial Thaler in 1792.

1802-1803

After the Napoleonic occupation Eichsfeld came to the Kingdom of Prussia. From then on the ownership of the Keudelstein changed several times. One of them, L'Estogne, sold half of the Plesse, the former knightshouse and the farm (called Keudelstein) to the Community of Hildebrandshausen. In the knightshouse a spinning-mill was established. The building still stands and was converted to the vicarage in 1869. At the site of the farm buildings (Junkers Hobereit) the present church was built in 1866.

19. Jhd.

Until the middle of the 19^th century weaving and woolspinning were the main sources of income.

1814

Again under Prussian rule – the weaving trade increased again. This trade was common to the whole Eichsfeld and was important as the barren soil could hardly feed the inhabitants. Many also went peddling and hawking to gain extra income. When in 1818 the customs were introduced the prices for woven material dropped heavily and many inhabitants of Hildebrandshausen suffered as weavers.

1848

The school building was startet.

1861

Martin and Lorenz von Geismar obtained the Keudelstein (the seat of the Keudels) in 1861. Also in 1861 Christoph Martin purchased the manor for 24 000 Thaler. His brother, the Bishop of Paderborn, consecrated a hall in the north wing as Chapel on 10^th October 1862.

1866

1866 the construction of the present church was started.

29.5.1869

On 29^th June 1869 it was consecrated by Bishop Konrad Martin of Paderborn. The first officiating priest was Josef Strecker 1866 – 1912. He was followed by:

August Hornemann 1912 – 1937

Dr. Martin Hannappel 1937 – 1942

Johann Hunold 1942 – 1944

Albert Schäfer 1944 – 1953

Ende 19.Jhd.

The poorest inhabitants were the wool spinners and the day labourers. These had to ask for public support to feed and clothe themselves. Also the shepherd belonged to the poorest, his annual income was 16 Imp. Thaler. Towards the end of the 19^th century the people of Hildebrandshausen went to Hesse and even the Rhine Provinces to improve their standard of living. They worked in sugar refineries and tile factories. The remaining family members had to attend to the farming and to work at the looms. Working away from home was common till 1945.

1901

1901 District Officer von Keudel purchased the former property of his ancestors for 210 000 marks.

1906

The creek Rosebach is not always running harmlessly and quietly. After thunderstorms and winters with lots of snow it can become a wild turrent. When in the year of 1906 a melting wind came up and the heaps of snow on the Gayberg and the ridge of the Plesse hills melted, the whole lower village from the Rinnchen to the Klingenberg was changed into a lake and the road to Lengnfeld was inundated up to the Heide.

1907 (1903)

1907 the village was connected to the public water supply and on 2^nd February 1920 electric light was switched on

1919

the place was attached to the electrical rural power station and the electrical light is switched on on February 2nd, 1920 for the first time. An electrical street illumination also shines

1931

The depression of  1931 as a new financial hardship hit Hildebrandshausen. This brought the introduction of a beer and head tax. In 1932 – 1933 the community had built the sports field as a measure against unemployment.

1939-1945

The period of fascism and the Second World War  were as unpleasant as it was for the whole of Germany. 52 dead were to be mourned.

20. Jhd.

1952

After 1945 and the following division of Germany Hildebrandshausen found itself  in the immediate proximity of the dividing border and subsequently in the restricted area of the District of Muehlhausen. Many inhabitants were expelled between 1952 and 1961 causing heavy damage to the development of Hildebrandshausen.

1959-1960

After the public sewage system and the road surfacing had been finished Hildebrandshausen became the most beautiful village in the southern Eichsfeld. (L. Rummel). The sewage system was built by the inhabitants under the National Reconstruction Works voluntarily and without pay.

1960

1968

1968 Hildebrandshausen celebrated 650 years in co-operation of all inhabitants, a cultural high point in the village.

1968

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