Seigneux

Origin of the name Seigneux

Seigneux first appears in written sources around 1216-1250, in the Latinized form «Simuus». The name subsequently evolved over the centuries into its current form, «Seigneux». The precise etymology of this place name is not clearly established in the sources consulted, this point remains to be cross-checked; despite the phonetic resemblance to the French word «seigneur» (lord), no direct etymological link is demonstrated by the sources available.

Founding of Seigneux

No source consulted documents a precise founding act or an identified founder for Seigneux: like most villages of the Vaud Broye region, its origin is lost in the rural settlement of the early Middle Ages, before the first written documents. The oldest attested rights over the territory belonged to the Bishopric of Lausanne. In the 12th century, the bishop of Lausanne ceded local lands to a nobleman of the Dompierre family; between 1221 and 1229, bishop Guillaume d'Ecublens bought back part of these rights on behalf of the bishopric. A portion of the village nevertheless remained a fief of Dompierre and then passed to the lords of Estavayer; the Villarzel and Combremont-le-Grand families also held property there. The village was subsequently attached to the episcopal domain of Lucens and administered by its castellan; this last point, little detailed in the sources, remains to be cross-checked.

History of Seigneux

around 1216-1250. First attested mention of the village under the name «Simuus».

12th century. The bishop of Lausanne sells lands of the village to a nobleman of the Dompierre family.

1221-1229. Bishop Guillaume d'Ecublens of Lausanne buys back part of these lands on behalf of the bishopric.

1415. Construction of the Saint-Jacques chapel, still preserved today.

1536-1798. After the Bernese conquest of the Pays de Vaud, Seigneux is administratively attached to the government of Payerne.

1798-1802. During the revolutionary period, the village comes under the administration of the Fribourg district of Payerne; this administrative detail remains to be cross-checked.

1803-2006. After the creation of the canton of Vaud, Seigneux belongs to the Vaud district of Payerne.

1981. Adoption of the communal zoning plan.

31 August 2006. The district of Payerne is dissolved; Seigneux is attached to the new district of Broye-Vully.

1 July 2011. Seigneux merges with Cerniaz, Combremont-le-Grand, Combremont-le-Petit, Granges-près-Marnand, Marnand, Sassel and Villars-Bramard to form the new municipality of Valbroye; the village loses its status as an independent municipality.

Population of Seigneux

Population of Seigneux

1558	14 hearths (taxable households, not to be confused with a number of inhabitants)
1764	190
1850	324
1900	284
1950	226
2000	276
2009	296

Historic sites in Seigneux

Saint-Jacques chapel. Built in 1415, this chapel is the oldest religious monument of the village still preserved.

Hamlet of Treize-Cantons. Small hamlet located along the former road linking Lausanne to Payerne, within the territory of the former municipality; a factory for agricultural machinery was established there. The precise origin of this hamlet's name is not documented in the sources consulted and remains to be cross-checked.

Agricultural land of Seigneux. The territory of the former municipality, about 3,72 km² in area, was occupied by more than 60% agricultural land, reflecting the historic rural vocation of the village within the Vaud Broye region.

Remains in Seigneux

Medieval motte at the site known as « Les Combes ». A castle motte (a fortified medieval earthen mound) is reported at the site known as Les Combes. Its precise dating, its exact function and its state of preservation are not confirmed by any documented archaeological excavation in the sources consulted; this information remains to be cross-checked.

Sources

• Fabienne Abetel-Béguelin, « Seigneux », notice du Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse (DHS)
• Wikipédia (français), « Seigneux »
• Wikipedia (English), « Seigneux »
• Wikipédia (français), « Valbroye »
• Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), données statistiques communales de Seigneux

Other villages near Seigneux

• Cerniaz (VD)
• Dompierre (VD)
• Henniez (VD)
• Villars-Bramard (VD)
• Villarzel (VD)