The de Wendel family is a family of ironmasters whose history is inseparable not only from that of Lorraine, but also from the industrial history of France, creating a steel group of international dimensions.

Originally from Bruges, the Wendels, in the person of Jean-Martin de Wendel (1665-1737), settled in Hayange in 1704. They were succeeded by eight generations of ironmasters, often involved in Lorraine and national politics. François (1778-1825) was in particular a member of parliament and president of the General Council of Moselle. His son, Charles (1809-1870), was a Moselle deputy under Napoleon III. The latter's son, Henri (1844-1906), was a member of the Reichstag under the German occupation. Henri's son, François (1874-1949), was the emblematic figure of this dynasty: forge master, senator, general councillor, president of the Forges Committee, regent of the Bank of France. He was the father of the Countess of Mitry (1907-1976), whose name is attributed to a tennis cup, which is still played every year during the tournament of the Tennis-Club of Hayange.

The family lived in the partially demolished Hayange castle, not far from the imposing central office. A nephew of Henri, Guy de Wendel (1878-1955), senator and president of the Moselle General Council, had a castle built in 1906, which was later inhabited by his niece, Ségolène de Wendel (1908-1981), who played an important role during the Resistance and was an essential support for many people from Lorraine who were condemned to flee.