Gossens

Origin of the name Gossens

The name Gossens derives from Gozzo, a Germanic personal name, to which is added the toponymic suffix -ens, typical of many place names on the French-speaking Swiss Plateau formed from a personal name. The village also owes its origin to an estate equipped with a barn (hence the connection locally evoked between the place name and this farming operation) that the commandery of La Chaux owned at this location.

Founding of Gossens

Gossens developed out of a farming estate with a barn belonging to the commandery of La Chaux, a dependency of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem (the Hospitallers) established on Vaud soil. The neighbouring hamlet of Granges-de-Gossens, formerly called Granges de Joux, for its part belonged to the seigneury of Bioley-Magnoux, a jurisdictional distinction that gave rise to numerous conflicts in the Middle Ages between the two authorities. Until 1228, the territory was moreover attached to the seigneury of St-Martin du Chêne, before coming under other seigneurial authorities.

History of Gossens

until 1228. Gossens is attached to the seigneury of St-Martin du Chêne.

1376. Brother Pierre de Billens, knight and commander of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem in the land of Vaud, leases out lands of Gossens, confirming the village's link with the commandery of La Chaux.

17th century. Until this period, the village consisted of only one house sheltering about fifteen families, together with two rural buildings. A major fire then destroys almost the entire village as well as its archives, which explains the scarcity of documents predating this date.

Bernese period. Under Bernese rule, Gossens belongs to the seigneury of Bioley-Magnoux.

1798. Gossens joins the newly created district of Yverdon, where it will remain until 2006.

until 1846. Gossens depends on the parish of Cronay.

1846. The parish it belongs to changes: Gossens now depends on Orzens.

1862. Gossens joins the parish of Sauteruz, to which it remains attached thereafter.

1949. Construction of the village school.

1957. A land consolidation is carried out across the municipal territory.

1972. Gossens is connected to the intermunicipal association for the water supply of the Menthue.

1979. The village's internal water pipes are replaced.

1982. A postal delivery service is set up for the village.

2006. The district of Yverdon is dissolved; Gossens joins the new district of Jura-Nord vaudois.

11 March 2007. The citizens of Gossens, Donneloye and Mézery-près-Donneloye vote to merge their three municipalities into one, under the name of Donneloye.

1 January 2008. The merger takes effect: Gossens loses its status as an independent municipality and becomes a village of the new municipality of Donneloye, in the district of Jura-Nord vaudois.

August 2008. Final closure of the class at the Gossens school.

Population of Gossens

Population of Gossens

1803	62
1850	152
1900	115
1950	92
2000	113
2007	122

Historic sites in Gossens

The Gossens school. Built in 1949, this school building took in the children of the village until its class was finally closed in August 2008, shortly after the municipal merger.

The hamlet of Granges-de-Gossens. Located north of the village, on the slope overlooking the Menthue, this hamlet, formerly called Granges de Joux, historically belonged to the seigneury of Bioley-Magnoux, a jurisdictional distinction that long set it apart from the village of Gossens proper.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse (DHS/HLS), article "Gossens"
• Commune de Donneloye, page "Histoire de Gossens"
• Wikipédia (anglais), article "Gossens"
• Wikipédia (français), article "Donneloye"

Other villages near Gossens

• Donneloye (VD)
• Bioley-Magnoux (VD)
• Cronay (VD)
• Mézery-près-Donneloye (VD)
• Ursins (VD)