The village of Orfalu, along with the neighboring Újbalázsfalva (now part of Apátistvánfalva), is mentioned in documents dating back to the 16th century. In 1583, it appears in records under the name Orfalou.
The area of the village was undoubtedly an uninhabited forest before the end of the 12th century. When Hungarian King Béla III settled Cistercian monks from France in the area that would become Szentgotthárd, the region began to develop. The Cistercians settled Slovenian farmers and established manors. These manors in Orfalu survived until the 20th century. The intact natural beauty of Orfalu to this day serves as a testament to the advanced state of agriculture at that time.
The 17th century holds a sad chapter in the village's history. In 1625, Orfalu submitted to the Ottoman Turks. The steward’s report states: "The year before their submission, the Turks looted them, burned down the entire village, killed 18 people in the fire, took 60 captive, beheaded two, and drove off all the livestock, at least 300 head. Seven of them ransomed themselves: Maticz Sebján with his wife for 300 thalers, Zeteg György with his wife for 600, Zetek Markó for 100, another Mesicz Sebján's wife for 150, Bothi Marton’s wife for 80. The rest remained captives." Those who could be ransomed were freed, but for more than six decades, the villagers paid taxes to the Turks to avoid further destruction.
By the time the village was mentioned again, it had already changed ownership several times. It first belonged to the Thurzó family, then to the Poppel family, and finally came under the ownership of Mária Széchy. In the 17th century, the Cistercian Abbey of Szentgotthárd reclaimed it, and it remained in its possession until the mid-19th century.
At the end of the 19th century, there were still 289 residents of Orfalu, mostly Catholics with a small number of Augustan Lutherans. The village itself, as Cistercian property, had never been Lutheran, and during the Reformation, the residents did not convert. However, the nearby village of Bűdfalva did, and a significant number of Lutherans still live there today. There was a close connection between the two villages, which eventually led to the presence of Lutherans in Orfalu.
Over time, many residents relocated, with a large number emigrating to America. By the year 2000, only 56 residents remained. That year, a memorial plaque was unveiled next to the restored belfry, listing the names of the residents who were alive at that time in alphabetical order.
Hungary
