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Compois

Canton of Geneva · No published figure for the locality; the municipality of Meinier has 2'111 inhabitants (31.12.2025)
Part of the municipality of Meinier
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Must-see historical sites Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Compois

The name appears as « Compisio » between 1078 and 1120, « Compeis » in 1204, « Compesio » in 1220, « Conpeis » in 1225 and « Compeys » in 1318. The forms « Copeis » and « Compensium » are also known, undated. It probably comes from Old French compos or compois, which could mean an arrangement, a land register, a manure or, according to Henry Suter, a due paid by several people for the shared use of a property such as a pasture.[3][7]

Founding of Compois

Compois, now one of the hamlets of the municipality of Meinier, is recorded from the late 11th or early 12th century, though who founded it is not known. In the Middle Ages it had a castle, dated to the 13th century, held by the de Compey family, vassals of the Count of Savoy, and a church attached to the parish of Meinier.[1][2][7]

History of Compois

1078-1120. The place first appears, in the form « Compisio ».[7]

13th century. The castle of Compois is dated to this century by the historian Louis Blondel.[2]

1256. Gérold de Compey, of a family of vassals of the Count of Savoy, gives the castle of Compois to his nephew Pierre.[1]

1339. Compois appears as a parish in the Dauphiné inquiry (enquête delphinale), which records the hearths of each parish.[2]

Early 16th century. The de Compey family, whose name is also spelt « de Compois », dies out. Recorded from the early 13th century as owners of the castle of Thorens (Haute-Savoie), it had also held the lordships of Prangins, Grandcour and Aigle in the Pays de Vaud.[6]

16th century. At the Reformation, the church of Compois, attached to the parish of Meinier, is deconsecrated like other churches.

Early 17th century. Catholicism is restored at Meinier.[1]

1816. Meinier, which includes Compois, ceases to belong to Savoy. The commune is formed on the territory of the former parish.[1]

Historic sites in Compois

Castle of Compois. 13th-century castle, owned by the de Compey family, vassals of the Count of Savoy.[1][2]

Church of Compois. Church attached to the parish of Meinier, deconsecrated at the Reformation.[2]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Meinier » (Jean Terrier)
  2. Office du patrimoine et des sites (Genève), Service d'archéologie, « Rapport d'intervention, surveillance de chantier, chemin des Lance-Pierres 7, Meinier » (Philippe Ruffieux, Anne de Weck), septembre 2021
  3. Commune de Meinier, « Histoire & Armoiries »
  4. Office cantonal de la statistique (OCSTAT), Mémento statistique du canton de Genève 2026, tableau Population résidante par commune, en 2025
  5. geo.admin.ch, service de recherche de swisstopo (Compois, Meinier, coordonnées)
  6. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Compey, de » (Guido Castelnuovo), version du 06.05.2002
  7. État de Genève, Noms géographiques du canton de Genève, « Route de Compois »

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