before the thirty years' war began in 1618, laufach was a village with 76 "unterthanen" (a word that usually means “subjects” in german, but in this case it means “men or families”) – all together 300 inhabitants. after the disastrous war, according to a description of properties from 1651, there were 12 men and 33 “hearth places” (houses). through an energetic promotional effort by the elector of mainz, the depopulated spessart was newly settled with soldiers, craftsmen and foreigners. the old family names had disappeared and new ones made their appearance. in 1668, laufach had 72 households and 105 inhabitants.