From Prussian New Fields to Steinbach, Manitoba — Mennonite Roots & Resilience
Your Family Story
The Neufeld name (meaning "new field" in German) traces back to Dutch-German Mennonite farmers who reclaimed land in Prussia and later migrated to Russia and Canada. Many Neufeld families settled in Steinbach, Manitoba during the 1870s migration, escaping conscription and building thriving communities.
Your lineage connects deeply to Mennonite values of faith, pacifism, and community — with possible ties through marriage to the Thiessen line. You're from the heart of this heritage in Steinbach!
Martin Thiessen (1737–1822) — Your Key Ancestor
Martin Thiessen was born July 25, 1737, in Tiegenhagen, Gross Werder, Prussia (now Poland). He died June 7, 1822, in the same village. Son of Marten Tiessen (c.1705) and Marlene/Maricke Reimer (c.1720), he married Elske Penner (1740–1821) on May 3, 1762. They had eight children, forming a foundational branch for many Mennonite descendants who later migrated to Russia and North America.
His descendants intermarried with Neufeld families (e.g., Catharina "Tina" Claassen, stepdaughter of Peter Thiessen (1854–?), married Isaac U. Neufeld, linking the lines).
Maria Thiessen (1764–1830)
Aron Thiessen (1767–1838)
Martin Thiessen Jr. (1770–1854)
Johann Thiessen (1772–1842)
Peter Martin Thiessen (1775–1839) → key link to later migrations
Margaretha Thiessen (1779–1807)
Heinrich Jacob Thiessen (1781–1862)
Elisabeth Thiessen (1785–1823)
Interactive Family Tree (Thiessen → Neufeld Connection)
Inspiring tales of faith, service, and perseverance:
In the 1960s, Henry dedicated his life to Native Ministries, traveling by boat and snowmobile to build relationships between Mennonites and Indigenous communities.
Born 1922 in Saskatchewan, Leslie navigated the tension of Mennonite pacifism during WWII, choosing alternative service with courage.
Born 1909, Anna sold handmade paper flowers, becoming a beloved symbol of creativity and kindness in Mennonite towns.
