This does seem to be an Austriamn spelling. It is the history of the area that makes this confusing. I grew up thinking my ancestors were from Bavaria. I even visited and came home squeeling with delight over how much it felt like home...same food and music I grew up on! I have just found out that my g-g-grandfather was actually from Orastie, Transylvania! This was Austria-Hungary at the time and Austria for awhile and now Romania. Still, after reading some history, I can understand the Bavaria influence. Apparently Catherine the Great (in the 13th century) offered for some German knights from the Dutchy lands (Saxony, Bavaria etc.) to move to that area. In return for protection of the land they were given land and allowed to act as a state within a state. The Saxons had their own laws and elected officials including elected officials in the church. Most Saxons in this area were middle class land owners, the Hungarians were nobility and land owners and the Romanians were serfs. In 1848-49 there was a civil war between the Hungarians and Romanians and serfdom was abolished on paper. The Saxons just tried to stay out of the way. Today there are less then 5% German population in this area.