Godizo of Aspel-Heimbach was the first documented owner of the castle. In 1011 he bequeathed it to Count Gerhard of Metz (Mosalensis). He was the bailiff of Godizo's daughters Irmingardis and Ermintrudis. However, through the marriage of Godizo's widow, Gerhard of Monterberg came into possession of the castle. Gerhard of Lorraine and his ally Balderich of Drenthe then laid siege to the castle in order to take it back from Gerhard of Monterberg. He was killed in an ambush and the castle guards surrendered. From 1016 to 1021, the castle was the seat of Count Balderich, who was expelled from his own property in 1016, who carried out raids from there and died there in 1021.
Ermintrudis, the daughter of Godizo, received Hengebach Castle. Her second marriage was to Bruno, Count of Zulpichgau, and guardian of the royal estate at Flatten. After Bruno (son of Richwin I of Ripuaria, Count of the Eifel 992-1033, Wildban Kempenich 992, Lord of Heerlen), Hengebach went to his brother Richwin II, from him to his son Godfried, who in turn handed it over to his son Ethelger (Adelger) of Zülpich around 1075 and 1094, a great-grandson of Godizo, referred to in documents as Lord of Hengebach. Afterwards, at the beginning of the 12th century, Hermann I of Hengebach, a son of Adelger, is mentioned. He was the first owner of the castle, who belonged to the Hengebach family, and was probably the progenitor of the Hoen von Heimbach line at Loevenich Castle. The line ended with the death of Everhard III around 1237. The Jülich and Heimbach territories were united under the rule of Count Wilhelm IV of Jülich.
Until the occupation of the left bank of the Rhine by French revolutionary troops and the associated practical dissolution of the Duchy of Jülich towards the end of the 18th century, Hengebach Castle was continuously owned by the counts and later dukes of Jülich, only to pass to his heirs, the Counts Palatine of Palatinate-Neuburg, after the death of the last duke, Johann Wilhelm, in 1609.
The castle fell into disrepair. A fire in 1687 reduced Heimbach Castle to complete ruins.