Syens

Origin of the name Syens

First written mention: «Ciens» in 1018. The etymology of the name is not explained in the sources consulted.

Founding of Syens

The sources consulted give neither a founding date nor a founder. The village appears in 1018 as a possession of the Abbey of Saint-Maurice. In the Middle Ages, Syens formed a seigneury with Rossenges and Bressonnaz. The municipality, south of Moudon, comprises the village of Syens and the hamlet of Bressonnaz, where mills, a threshing mill and a sawmill were operated.

History of Syens

1018. First written mention, in the form «Ciens», as a possession of the Abbey of Saint-Maurice.

1228. Syens is a parish.

15th century. The seigneury of Syens, Rossenges and Bressonnaz belongs to the Cerjat family of Moudon.

1536. Start of Bernese rule; Syens belongs to the bailiwick of Moudon until 1798. At the Reformation, the parish becomes a dependency of Moudon.

1548. The seigneury passes to Henri d'Erlach and Urbain Dupont, lord of Myans (Savoy).

1654. Jean Antoine Zehender buys the seigneury; it later returns to the Cerjat family, who hold it until 1798.

1765. Founding of the abbaye (shooting society) of Syens and Rossenges.

1769. Syens becomes a parish again, with Hermenches, Rossenges and Vucherens.

1780. A first mill is operated at Bressonnaz; a second follows in 1803.

1787. The church is rebuilt, incorporating the medieval choir.

1795. The commune members buy out the feudal rights.

1798. The municipality is assigned to the district of Moudon, until 2006.

1846. The parish is merged with that of Moudon.

1864. The parish of Syens is re-established.

1884. Founding of a dairy and agricultural cooperative.

late 19th century. The Cerjat family keeps ownership of the Bressonnaz estate until this period.

2008. The district of Broye-Vully, created by the new territorial division of Vaud, begins operating on 1 January.

Population of Syens

Population of Syens

1550	8 hearths (households)
1764	120 inhabitants
1803	133 inhabitants
1850	235 inhabitants
1900	175 inhabitants
1950	124 inhabitants
2000	117 inhabitants
2025	144 inhabitants

Historic sites in Syens

Church of Syens. Church of a parish attested in 1228, rebuilt in 1787 incorporating the medieval choir.

Bressonnaz. Hamlet of the municipality, formerly part of the seigneury of Syens; two mills (1780, 1803), a threshing mill and a sawmill were operated there. The Cerjat family kept the estate until the end of the 19th century.

Remains in Syens

Medieval choir of the church. Oldest part of the church, preserved during the 1787 rebuilding.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Syens »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
• Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
• Wikipédia, « Syens »

Localities of the municipality with a page

• Bressonnaz

Other villages near Syens

• Bressonnaz (VD)
• Rossenges (VD)
• Chavannes-sur-Moudon (VD)
• Moudon (VD)
• Hermenches (VD)