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Saturday, May 14, 2011

Bauernfeind origins

Below is a compilation of some research I gathered from Michael Bauernfeind research in 1980 and from Bauernfeinds in Wisconsin.

The history is filled with Crusader knights, Catholic Church officials, including a bishop, crumbled castles, and numerous coats-of-arms. Wolfgang Mozart’s mother was a Salzberg Bauernfeind.

The family castles are no more than small, grass-covered heaps of stone. The families lost most of their titles. In the 1600s a Bauernfeind was beheaded for stealing a sheep. A painting of this event still hangs in a small village church in upper Bavaria. The painter gave our theif a saint’s halo.

Kemnater von Kemnat lived in his family castle Hohenkemnate located in the Upper Palatinate near Amberg, Bayern. This family served the Bohemian kings.

The Pauernfeind/Bauernfeind name surfaced by the 1400s. Their descendants served royal families in Prague. There were numerous great Bauernfeind Houses and castles. There is the impression that one Bauernfeind branch was too closely associated politically with the death of Jan Hus. During the Hussite Rebellion, the Bauernfeinds fled throughout Europe as religious refugees, specifically to Austria, Bayern, and the Tirol. At the time, they split into five branches, hoping that by traveling separately, they could more easily regain their titles, or earn new titles. Some did, however, the Arzberg branch became commoners, although an Arzberg Bauernfeind was knighted in the 1870s.

Overall, the Bauernfeinds were very determined people who welcomed challenges. Some were tall, but others were quite short.
When our ancestors traveled into the Byzantine, they were impressed by the more elegant culture there. So after returning home they adopted some of its practices and mannerisms. Hence, Bauernfeind, which translates roughly as ,,enemy of the peasant’s life style.

The Arzberg Bauernfeinds began to emigrate in 1842. Although, Arzberg, Bayern switched back and forth between Catholic and Lutheran several times, the Arzberg Bauernfeinds remained faithful Roman Catholics. Röthenberg, which is near Arzberg, however, is decidedly Lutheran. I suspect the Baltimore Bauernfeinds hail from Roethenbach.

Coming soon: a blog on Gustav Bauernfeind.

12 comments:

Janet said...

Hello - I'm trying to find a Peter Bauernfeind who graduated in 1976 from Ripon High School, Ripon, WI. I am pretty sure you're not him but perhaps in your research with WI Bauernfeinds, you came across him or his family? We're having our 35th reunion this summer and I'm trying to find him. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you,
Janet Morris -- jannylmorris@gmail.com

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Anonymous said...

I too, along with others from RHS, have been hoping to find Pete. Janet, have you had any luck?
Romelle
cownselor@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

My husband is glen Bauernfeind from south dakota

Unknown said...

My husband is glen Bauernfeind from south dakota

Unknown said...

Janet, did you ever find him? Just wondering, as we were in Photo Club together and used to be friends. I’d love to know what ever became of him. Thanks! R. Jean Eastman

Anonymous said...

His parents might b
James
F n Arlene
Bauernfeind of Appleton wi

Anonymous said...

Bonnie Luther of Ripon wi
Text
9207450216

Anonymous said...

Alas, no, I have not

Anonymous said...

Hi Romelle, no luck

Anonymous said...

Thank you; I think those are his folks

Anonymous said...

Their address can simply b online Jim used to b my boss