He was the son Count Simon VII and his wife, Countess Anna Catherine of Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein (1590 -1622).
In 1659 he completed the expansion of the castle at Horn-Bad Meinberg with a splendid baroque entrance gate. The coat of arms of Herman Adolph and his wife can still be seen above this gate.
In 1648, he married Countess Ernestine of Ysenburg-Büdingen-Birstein (9 February 1614 – 5 December 1665) from Offenbach. They had four children:
Simon Henry (13 March 1649 – 2 May 1697), married Burgravine Amalia of Dohna-Vianen (2 February 1645 – 11 March 1700), from The Hague
Anna Maria (20 February 1651 – 22 July 1690)
Ernestine Sophie (9 March 1652 – 22 January 1702)
Joanna Elizabeth (6 August 1653 – 5 June 1690), married Count Christoper Frederick of Dohna-Lauck
After the death of Ernestine's on 5 December 1665, he married in 1666 Countess Amalia of Lippe-Brake (20 September 1629 – 19 August 1676). This marriage remained childless.
