The village was first mentioned in 1147 as Gestele, and means "guest house". Moer (moorland / peat excavation settlement) was later added to distinguish from Luyksgestel.[3] Moergestel started on a sandy ridge near the brook Reusel. It is started to develop when the roads from Tilburg to Eindhoven and Oisterwijk to Hilvarenbeek intersected in the village.[4]
The tower of the St John, the Baptish church dates from the 16th century. Later the church was added to the tower. Between 1930 and 1931, the church was replaced.[4] The nameless grist mill of Moergestel was built in 1852. Some parts of the wind mill dates from around 1600. In 2010, it was restored and operates on a voluntary basis.[5]
Moergestel was home to 389 people in 1840.[6] Moergestel was a separate municipality until 1997, when it became part of Oisterwijk.[7]
