Historical Accounts

Heidebauern Communities by Henry A. Fischer Kaltenstein (Level), Layos (Komárom),  Nickelsdorf,  Packs on the Danube, and others Kaltenstein (Level) This Heidebauern community existed since the year 900, but its first 600 years are shrouded in mystery.  It was only in the high Middle Ages that families took on “second” names.  The first documented list of families comes from 1546 and includes:                                    Bennusch Hausmann                                    Georg Thanicker                                    Anton Pinkitzer                                    Wolf Stelzer                                    Marx Zechmaister                                    Clement Murrer                                    Valtein Rott                                    Jakob Lang*                                    Mathes Stainer                                    Kyrein Reyer                                    Georg Wallner In addition there were:                                    Wurmb (Wurm)                                    Pairr (Bayer)                                    Vischer (Fischer)*                                    Mutt (Muth)*                                    Weidner                                    Muer A document entitled the Possessio of Kaltenstein of 1644 indicates the following families were living in Kaltenstein:                                    Thomas Stelczer                                    Gregorius Andreas Muhr                                    Ambrosius Muhr                                    Thomas Pinketzer                                    Vitus Danicker                                    Mattaues Chechmaster                                    Gregorius Daninker                                    Christof Muhr                                    Martinus Steltzer                                    Christof Steltzer                                    Blasius Ratt (Rott)                                    Gregorius Schneider* In addition to these holding land there were cottagers who did daily labour for the noble:                                    Christophorus Botter                                    Gregorius, Simon and Thomas Hauczinger                                    Matthaeus Peckh                                    Thomas Huetflus                                    Matthaeus Fischer*                                   Abraham Heckh                                   Andreas Bierleiher                                   Joachim Gross*                                   Rupertus Daschner                                   Johannes Fleischacker                                   Michael Saltzer                                   Simon Fischer*                                   Lauren Macher                                   Matthaeus Gross                                   Gregorius Grass                                   Gallus Pamer                                   Philippus Schmickl                                   Marcus Marx                                   Wolfgang Salamon                                   Matthaeus Schuesser                                   Johannes Holczer                                   Johannes Hierschinger                                   Martinus Ranner                                   Augustinius Seubalt                                   Balsius Ratt (Rott)                                   Johannes Lienhart                                   Matthaeus Kharni                                   Paulus Raisinger                                   Stephanus Marcus                                   Gregorius Stattner                                   Sebaldus Matern                                   Paulus Pinter                                   Adam Grass                                   Peter Schmauser                                   Christoph Stelczer                                   Gregorius Plambtritt                                   Andreas Schnaider (Schneider)*                                   Bartold Daschner                                   Gregorius Pinter                                   Johannes Griessell                                   Johannes Schueb                                   Matthaeus Grass                                   Thomas Rhatt                                   Andreas Schmauser                                   Matthaeus Pameker                                   Salomonis Ranner                                   Jakobus Grass                                   Johannes Dasch                                   Blasius Wennes                                   Jakobi Raiff                                   Christoph Gebhardt                                   Martinus Grass                                   Matthaeus Eckher                                   Gregorius Schneider*                                   Sebaldus Schuesser                                   Joannes Perkhamer                                   Gallus Schuister                                   Blassius Wiessinger   In the Possessio of 1732 these families are identified:                                     Hutfless                                   Hong                                   Nicz (Nitsch, Nix)                                   Tulner                                   Mur                                   Groff                                   Cwinkel                                   Taninger                                   Wesuckner                                   Lehner                                   Weth                                   Solczer (Salzer)                                   Stelzer                                   Wajsz ( Weiss)    The Evangelical Lutheran Church records of 1736 list these families:                                      Hoffbauer                                    Riecher or Riecker                                    Lechner                                    Rath                                    Hake                                    Tulner                                    Dorn                                    Limbacher                                    Pamer                                    Mayrim                                    Troscherin                                    Pagessam                                    Buechler                                    Hagn                                    Schmoltzer                                    Gangl                                    Dumpf                                    Wallner                                    Niczinger                                    Kastler                                    Pauret                                    Schiebinger                                    Weiss                                     Dascht                                    Schmickel                                    Weber*                                    Praimagen   Lajos Komárom, Veszprem County: This community was first settled in the latter part of the 18th century with the majority of the original settlers migrating there from Pusztavam.  The following family names appear there in the Lutheran Church records.  There were also Slovak Lutherans who settled there with the Heidebauern.                                                   Andorka                                                   Bader                                                   Bartz                                                   Bauer                                                   Benthaler (Pentaller)                                                   Biller                                                   Binder (Pinter)                                                   Blasser                                                   Block                                                    Boch                                                   Bohm                                                   Brindlmeyer                                                   Brenner                                                   Buss (Boss, Boos)                                                   Christ                                                   Deutsch                                                   Eberhardt                                                   Eberling                                                   Eiler (Ailer)                                                   Falb                                                   Fausst                                                   Fischer*                                                   Friedrich                                                   Fullner                                                   Gamer                                                   Gangl                                                   Gasst                                                   Geheim                                                   Germann                                                   Gotthard                                                   Graf (Grof)                                                   Griebel                                                   Gross                                                   Grunwald                                                   Gsellmann                                                   Guntler                                                   Hackstock                                                   Hafner                                                   Hagen                                                   Hanol                                                   Haupt                                                   Hausser                                                   Hautzinger                                                   Heilmann                                                   Hertel                                                   Heit                                                   Hermann                                                   Hertz                                                   Hirsch                                                   Hofbauer                                                   Hoffmann                                                   Horvath                                                   Huck                                                   Hutfless                                                   Irsch                                                   Jager                                                   Jankovits                                                   Juhatsch                                                   Jullich                                                   Jusst                                                   Keim                                                   Ketter                                                   Kibitz                                                   Kind                                                   Kiss                                                   Kisstner                                                   Kivitz (Kuvich)                                                   Kleiber (Kloiber)                                                   Klein                                                   Kleinmann                                                   Klemann                                                   Koch                                                   Kranich                                                   Krauss*                                                   Krebs (Kreps)                                                   Kreutzer                                                   Kriessl                                                   Kruz                                                   Kunerth                                                   Kuntzler                                                   Lackner                                                   Lang                                                   Leckner                                                   Lechner                                                   Lehner                                                   Leitner                                                   Lisztmeyer                                                   Macher                                                   Malentz                                                   Mann                                                   Marth                                                   Mathess                                                   Mattern                                                   Mausser                                                   Meidlinger                                                   Meixner                                                   Mengess                                                    Mossberger (Muschberger)                                                   Muck                                                   Musch                                                   Musser                                                   Nagel                                                   Nass                                                   Nitschinger                                                   Ossterle                                                   Pamer                                                   Pappert                                                   Paul                                                   Pavel                                                   Prahauer                                                   Phillip                                                   Pohl                                                   Pross                                                   Pulz                                                   Putz                                                   Raab                                                   Rall                                                   Rausser                                                   Reichard                                                   Reiss                                                   Reissinger                                                   Renz                                                   Richlmeyer                                                   Ringler                                                   Rivich (Rivitz, Rofritsch)                                                   Roth                                                   Ruck                                                   Ruder                                                   Russ                                                     Saffenauer                                                   Sapper                                                   Schafer                                                   Schenk                                                   Schmausser                                                   Schevinger                                                   Schmeltzer                                                   Schmidt                                                   Schmitz                                                   Schneider                                                   Schnitz                                                   Schrey                                                   Schranz                                                   Schwarz                                                   Seiler                                                   Spiegel                                                   Stiedl                                                   Steffler                                                   Steiner                                                   Steinwald                                                    Stinner                                                   Stirl                                                   Stock                                                   Stolz                                                                                                         Stolzer                                                   Streit                                                                                                              Strobel                                                          Temmer                                                   Teubel                                                   Tetzl                                                   Thiringer                                                   Thorich                                                   Thurr                                                   Till                                                   Tullner                                                   Tulz                                                   Urspringer                                                   Viant (Viandt)                                                   Wagner*                                                   Wallner                                                   Walter                                                   Wanderer                                                   Weber                                                   Weiland                                                   Weiler                                                   Weniger                                                   Wenninger                                                   Wiandt                                                   Wieland                                                   Wiessberger                                                   Wimmer                                                   Winkler                                                   Winterk                                                   Wolf                                                   Wurm                                                   Zecher                                                   Zechmeister                                                   Zehr     Nickelsdorf: It was reported that the teachings of Martin Luther were already widespread in the area as early as 1521 and Nickelsdorf would remain one of the citadels of Lutheranism during the years of persecution ahead.  Its origins can be traced back to the 11th century and its inhabitants were of Franconian and Bavarian descent.   The following heads of families were the leaders of the congregation during the Decade of Sorrows from 1672 to 1683 when over 800 Lutheran churches throughout Hungary were confiscated and the pastors and schoolmasters were exiled or forced to give up their ministry.  Those who refused to do either ended up being imprisoned and then later sold as galley slaves in Naples if they survived the march there on foot.  The money from their sale was used to refurbish the Sistine Chapel in Rome.  The following were leaders of the congregation who risked sending a petition to the emperor in Vienna protesting the illegal confiscation of their church.                                      Hans Blasser                                    Georg Zimmermann                                    Johann Steltzer                                    Lorenz Falb                                    Georg Pingetzer                                    Martin Meixner   Other families listed in the community records for 1789 included:                                       Baldauf                                     Blasser                                     Bohm                                     Cramer (Kramer)                                     Dullner (Thullner)                                     Eder                                     Falb                                     Fischer*                                     Gangl                                     Gindl                                     Hackl                                     Hanel                                     Hauptmann                                     Hautzinger                                     Hutfless                                     Koller                                     Lackner                                     Lehner                                     Lorenz                                     Marx                                     Meidlinger                                     Meixner                                     Mullner                                     Nitsch (Nics, Nix)                                     Nitschinger                                     Oszvald (Oswald)                                     Pahr                                     Pingetzer                                     Rahn (Rohn)                                     Rosenmar                                     Rumpeltes                                     Salzer                                     Schiesler                                     Schmickel                                      Sollner                                      Stelzer                                     Theyl                                     Unger                                     Weisz                                     Wimmer                                     Zech                                     Zechmeister                                     Zimmermann                                    Paks on the Danube:      This river port on the west side of the Danube was the jumping off spot for the immigrant trains into the interior of Tolna County.  Large numbers of Heidebauern settled here rather than taking up land, because they were artisans and tradesmen and sought a life other than homesteading and farming.  Along with them there were also colonists from Germany, primarily from Wurttemberg and Baden.  They followed the same pattern here as in Györköny, and although they were fellow Lutherans they did not intermarry with the other group until later in the 19th century.  Any attempts on their part to develop any kind of Lutheran congregational life was impossible due to the influence of the sheriff of the County who also happened to the bishop of the area.  It was only in the early 1800’s that Lutheran Church life officially began there so that the information I have comes from the Roman Catholic parish records and also includes Lutherans from Bikács and Györköny, who at times were also forced to come under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic clergy.  The following family names can be found in these records:                                                  Aich (Eich)                                                  Achs (Ochs)                                                  Bauer                                                  Bayer                                                  Becht                                                   Beck                                                  Becker                                                  Bens (Benz)                                                  Bernhard                                                  Bernthaller                                                  Binter                                                  Blasser                                                  Bock                                                  Brandtner                                                  Braun                                                  Brihm                                                  Bruckner                                                  Brunner                                                  Durr                                                  Eberhardt                                                  Ebert                                                  Eich                                                  Eiler                                                  Engel                                                  Engelhardt                                                  Falb                                                  Fantzler                                                  Fischer*                                                  Friedrich                                                  Fritz                                                   Frohlich                                                   Galler                                                   Gangl                                                   Gast                                                   Germann                                                   Gobel                                                   Goldmann                                                   Graf                                                   Groff                                                   Gross*                                                   Grunwald                                                   Gsellmann                                                   Gutsell                                                   Haass                                                   Hack                                                   Hackl                                                   Hackstock                                                   Hadinger                                                   Hanol                                                   Hartmann                                                   Haupt                                                   Hausser                                                   Herber                                                   Hermann                                                   Hess                                                   Hessmer                                                   Hirsch                                                   Hobler                                                   Hofbauer                                                   Hoffmann                                                   Hollendonner                                                   Huber                                                   Huntzinger                                                   Hutfless                                                   Jager                                                   Keim                                                   Keller                                                   Khern                                                   Klag                                                   Kleitol                                                   Kloiber                                                   Koller                                                   Kotzmann                                                    Krauss                                                   Krebs                                                   Kreidemacher                                                   Kremm                                                   Kreutzer                                                   Kubik                                                   Lackner                                                   Lang                                                   Leitner                                                   Macher                                                   Majer                                                   Mannweif                                                   Marks (Marx)                                                   Marth                                                   Marz                                                   Mattern                                                   Meixner                                                   Messer                                                   Muller*                                                   Munch                                                   Muth*                                                   Mutz                                                   Neuhauser                                                   Nikitscher                                                   Nitschinger                                                   Osswald                                                   Ochs                                                   Pamer                                                   Paul                                                   Piller                                                   Pingetzer                                                   Pinter                                                   Piringer                                                   Pohl                                                   Polon                                                   Poor                                                   Potz                                                   Prahauser                                                   Rapp                                                   Rauch*                                                   Rausch*                                                   Reichert                                                   Reiss                                                   Reth                                                   Rohfritz                                                   Rohm                                                   Rohn                                                   Ruder                                                   Rumpp                                                   Saffenauer                                                   Sammet                                                   Sauer                                                   Schafer                                                   Schleyer                                                   Schlosser                                                   Schmausser                                                   Schmeltzer                                                   Schmidt                                                   Schmidtberger                                                   Schneider*                                                   Schosser                                                   Schrenck                                                    Schwarz                                                    Schweigert                                                    Seib                                                     Spiess                                                   Stangl                                                   Steiner                                                   Stelzer                                                   Stoos                                                   Stromberger                                                   Stumpf                                                   Sulzer                                                   Tell                                                   Tetzl                                                   Tieringer                                                   Till*                                                   Trapp                                                   Tullner                                                   Unger                                                   Vogel                                                   Wagner                                                   Weber*                                                   Weger                                                   Wehnhardt                                                   Weiler                                                   Weiss                                                   Weissling                                                   Weymer                                                   Wiessberger                                                   Wimmer                                                   Winckler                                                   Wolf                                                   Wunsch                                                   Wurm                                                   Zech                                                   Zecher   Other Heidebauern Communities Leiden/Lebeny: This Heidebauern community was situated within the domains of Ungarisch Altenburg and the population had gone over to the Reformation in the 1560’s, but with the unleashing of the Decade of Sorrows the vast majority of  the community returned to Catholicism under pressure.  But there were some families who continued in their evangelical faith as “household assemblies”, but gradually they began to move to the Lutheran Heideboden villages or sought a new future in the “settlements” to the south.  Among those families were:                                              Fischer*                                              Gross*                                              Hagen                                              Hautzinger                                              Hoffmann*                                              Hadinger                                              Hutfles                                              Lehner                                              Nitschinger                                              Reis                                              Reisinger                                              Sebek                                              Schmidt*                                              Stiener                                              Tullner                                              Wieland (Wieand)                                              Wurm                                              Zechmeister   Ungarisch Altenburg/Mosonmagyarovar:  The origins of the community and ancient fortress is lost in the mists of the history, but it did serve as a border fortress for the Roman Legions defending the Danube frontier of Pannonia in the 3rd  century.  German settlers arrived in the 10th and 11th century and then with the arrival of the Magyars it became a mixed community by the 14th century. The fortress and town harboured both Calvinists and Lutherans in the early period of the Reformation in Hungary, but it was the special target of the Counter Reformation and the Inquisition.  But some of the Heidebauern, mostly artisans and tradesmen who lived in the market town maintained their Lutheran identity.  The following family names from among them can be identified:                                              Gangl                                              Hautzinger                                              Hoffmann*                                                 Hutlfes                                              Lehner                                              Meidinger                                              Reisinger                                              Steiner                                              Stiener                                              Tullner                                              Wimmer   Zanegg/Mosonszolnok: Like Leiden this community converted to Catholicism except for the following families who left and settled in the new settlements or went to other Lutheran villages:                                             Hautzinger                                             Meidlinger                                             Reisinger                                             Steiner                                             Stoiber                                             Tullner                                             Zechmeister   Wiener-Neustadt, Burgenland:                                             Hartmann*   Odenburg/Sopron: This town that stood on the remains of the Roman city of Scarbantium became the citadel of Lutheranism in Hungary and continued to be so throughout its history.  It was a totally German royal city until the 19th century when a Magyar population also developed that would eventually become the majority after the deportations of the German population in 1946.  There were individuals who sought new prospects to the south and joined in the settlements in Swabian Turkey.  Some of these family names include:                                             Brauer                                             Ehmann                                             Gombos                                             Heller                                             Hupfel                                             Hittig                                             Keim                                             Krauss*                                              Lakner (Lackner)                                             Marth                                             Muller                                             Nettler                                             Potzner                                             Ratkotzy                                             Roth                                             Stang                                             Straner                                             Tuchhandler   Oberschutzen, Burgenland: This one of the leading Lutheran communities in the western Burgenland that shared much of the history and origins of the Heidebauern.                                            Balzer                                            Gamauf   Lutzmannsburg, Burgenland: This was also another Lutheran community in the western Burgenland that shared much of the history and background of the Heidebauern.                                               Bohm                                             Kimer                                             Ochs                                             Rossmer                                             Schopf                                             Zengraf   Pinkafeld, Burgenland: This community was located in the central Burgenland and was able to withstand all of the onslaughts of the Counter Reformation and remained steadfastly Lutheran.                                             Rock                                             Sadt                                             Schuler   Rust, Burgenland: This is the only Lutheran community that survived within the Esterhazy estates of Eisenstadt in present day Austria.                                             Becker*                                             Ellebruch                                             Gagenberger                                             Seiler   Cools, Burgenland:  A small village with the majority of the community holding to the Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) in western Burgenland in present day Austria.                                              Grunwald                                             Steiner                                             Schutz                                             Taigel   Pressburg/Bratislava: The ancient royal free city of Pressburg shared its name with the surrounding region the County of Pressburg.  Along with Odenburg it was the center of Lutheranism in Western Hungary and was the capital of Hungary during the occupation of the rest of the county by the Turks.  Whether the following families came from the city or the county cannot be verified.                                         Bergmann                                         Fleischacker                                         Friedrich                                         Heilinger                                         Ladenstein                                         Wanderer                                         Wissinger   Horn, Lower Austria:  This was a stronghold of the Dukes of Horn who were prominent defenders of Lutheranism in Austria.                                         Pressler                                         Ruppert*        This constitutes my research to the present with regard to the names of the Heidebauern families and their various places of origin.  I do not have any records available to me on Deutsch Jahrndorf at present and only limited records with regard to Ragendorf (Rajka), but I hope to rectify that in the future.  Hopefully it will help some researchers who have come to a “dead end” in terms of tracking their families back to Germany when in fact they came from Western Hungary some 800 years before the rest of us.   Henry Fischer October 2003