Johannisfeld (German) – Jánosföld, Torontál (Hungarian) – Ionești, 1924 – Ionel, 1948-1965 – Iohanisfeld, Romania (Official)
Timis County – Western Romania
Iohanisfeld is located in the southwest of Timiș County, between the Bega Canal and the Timiș River , about 4 km away from the border with Serbia.
This once beautiful Swabian community was built in 1806 on the basis of a contract signed in March 1805. The Johannisfeld settlers were Roman Catholic. Religion and initially belonged to the Pardany parish, in 1816 they received a local chaplain in Mr. Johann Zsutti, in 1826 Johannisfeld became a parish. Construction of the church began a year later. After several years of construction interruption, it was inaugurated in November 1833 by the Archpriest August Classovits from Szarcsa. Until then, the service had been held in a wooden building for almost three decades. The rectory was built in 1841. The organ building was completed in 1846. The organ is still functional today.
In 1924 , after the union of Banat with Romania, the name of the locality was changed to Ionești , after which it was returned to the name Iohanisfeld . During the communist period, the official name was changed again, this time to Ionel .
Iohanisfeld part of the commune of Otelec (Hun: Ótelek). Under the communist regime, Iohanisfeld was named Ionel, which remained official until 2008.
Video: Johannisfeld (Ionel) Straßeneindrücke 1995 by Walter Fissl
Captured images, click to enlarge:
Banater Mundart Johannisfeld 1995 (Hear the dialect)
Johannisfelder Buch; Hans Weinhardt, 1991
Familienbuch der katholische Pfarrgemeinde Johannisfeld im Banat. 1806-1904/1941 von Susan E. Clarkson, Ph.D Both in C-D & Churchbook. Pub. 2004
Genealogical Records – Church records available at LDS – FHC Microfilm Nr. :
050 RO – Johannisfeld B 1806-1852 M 1806-1852 D 1806-1852
Journey to Johannisfeld – Sue Clarkston
Johannisfeld Passenger Records – David Dreyer’s Banat Ship List
Johannisfeld Church 1954 (Source: Family Nikolaus Dogendorf)
Last updated: 06/30/2025