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The former ''[[edelfrei]]'' family was first mentioned as ''Ursperch'' in an 1162 deed issued by Duke [[Herman II, Duke of Carinthia|Herman II of Carinthia]] at his residence [[Sankt Veit an der Glan|St. Veit]]. Their ancestral seat was [[Turjak Castle]] ({{lang-de|Burg Ursperg}}, later ''Burg Auersperg'') in the [[March of Carniola]], according to an engraving on site built in 1067 by one Conrad I of Auersperg. Above the engraving stands the original Auersperg coat of arms, displaying an [[aurochs]] ({{lang-de|Auerochs(e)}} or ''Ur'', {{lang-sl|Tur}}). The family name may derive from [[Ursberg]] in [[Duchy of Swabia|Swabia]], their ancestors probably settled in [[Lower Carniola]] after the victory of King [[Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto I of Germany]] over the [[Principality of Hungary|Hungarian]] forces at the 955 [[Battle of Lechfeld]]. They held large estates from [[Grosuplje]] in the north down to [[Velike Lašče]] and [[Ribnica, Slovenia|Ribnica]], rivalling with the [[Meinhardiner]] counts of [[County of Görz|Görz]], the Carinthian [[County of Ortenburg|Ortenburg dynasty]] and the [[Patriarchate of Aquileia (state)|Patriarchs of Aquileia]].
In the 13th century, the high noble line became extinct and was succeeded by a dynasty of ''[[ministeriales]]''. In the mid 15th century, this line split
The Auersperg cadet branch, named after the castle of Šumberk in [[Lower Carniola]], was influential throughout the 16th century. Wilhelm Auersperg (called "the Rich", cca. 1462-1507) and his nephew Hans (1480-1529) were regents (''Landeshauptmann'') of Carniola. Hans's son Wolfgang-Engelbert was considered one of the most educated noblemen in Carniola, and a strong supporter of Lutheranism.<ref>https://www.slovenska-biografija.si/rodbina/sbi131739/</ref> His son [[Andreas von Auersperg]] was one of the military commanders during the decisive [[Battle of Sisak]] against the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]], gaining the nickname "Carniolan Achilles". In the early 17th century, the Šumberk cadet line, which was considered wealthier and more influential than the main one,<ref>https://www.slovenska-biografija.si/rodbina/sbi131739/</ref> died out; its estates were transferred back to the main line, and were later mostly inherited by the so-called "princely branch" of the family.
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