Karlsdorf (German) – Nagykarolyfalva (Hungarian) – Karolyfalva (Hungarian as of 1894) – Karolyfalva (Hungarian) – Banatsko Rankovicevo (Serbian) – Karlovo Selo (Serbian) – Banatski Karlovac, Serbia (Official)
South Banat District Vojvodina – NE District of Serbia
Located in the Alibunar municipality. 30 km NE of Pantschowa/Pancevo/Pancsova.
KARLSDORF was founded in 1803.
Adjective “Banatski” (i.e. “Banatian”) was given to differentiate the town from the town Karlovac in Croatia.
Genealogical Records – Church records available at LDS – FHC Microfilm Nr. :
052 YU – Karlsdorf, Nagykarolyfalva, Karolyfalva [microfilm no. 0858457; 1271540 duplicate copy but might contain more information]. Church records at FHL: B 1801-1832, M 1801-1832, D 1801-1832.
Filial parish of: Neu-Moldowa/Moldova Noua (founded in 1726, restored 1756);
Church records at FHL [microfilm no. 1190402]: B 1826-1851, M 1826-1851, D 1826-1851
Ethnic Germans settled in the settlement starting in 1803, and in the same year some Slavic Krašovani settlers from eastern Banat settled here as well. In 1921, name of the settlement was Karlovo Selo, and in 1926, it was officially named Banatski Karlovac. In the same year, the reading room was founded and monument dedicated to Serbs killed in 1848 revolution was built.
Before the end of World War II, most of the inhabitants of this town were ethnic Germans. After the war, their property was confiscated by the state and Germans were expelled or killed in concentration camps run by Yugoslav communist authorities. A German Lutheran church was razed off soon after the expulsion of Germans.
After the war, 615 (mostly Serb) families with 3,775 family members settled in the town. They originated from Central Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro, mostly from area around Užice and Čačak. Some settlers were not satisfied with life conditions in the town, so about 80 families returned to their place of origin. In 1949, town was named Banatsko Rankovićevo, and this name was in use until 1956, when old name Banatski Karlovac was returned.
Werschetz, Karlsdorf – Barb Wolgast
Last updated: 06/20/2025