His parents were Thilluf Josefsson of Gyllarp and Gunhild Ovesdatter Bing. Together with his wife Lady Lucie Nilsdatter, he resided at Austrått Manor beginning in 1540 and owned the manor from 1552 until his death on 14 October 1559. Jens Tillufssøn Bjelke was one of several notable Danes who acquired land, resided permanently in Norway, became thoroughly Norwegian and founded new Norwegian noble families, which replaced the old nobility of the first rank. He was the grandfather of Chancellor Jens Ågessøn Bjelke and great-grandfather of Governor Jorgen Bjelke, Admiral Henrik Bjelke and Chancellor Ove Bjelke.
