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
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