Valeyres-sous-Ursins

Origin of the name Valeyres-sous-Ursins

First mentioned around 1141 as «de Valeriis», then between 1151 and 1200 as «de Ualeres». Later forms include «Valeres» (1220) and «Valleyres sous Ursins» in the 17th century (to be cross-checked). The name is said to come from the Roman family name Valerius and to mean the estates belonging to a Valerius (to be cross-checked). The addition «sous-Ursins» distinguishes the village from the other Valeyres in Vaud.

Founding of Valeyres-sous-Ursins

The site has yielded the remains of a refuge of undetermined date and traces of Roman occupation. None of the sources consulted names a founder of the village. In the Middle Ages Valeyres belonged to the lordship of Belmont; lords «de Valeres», vassals of the castles of Belmont and Grandson, are recorded, and the name of a Henri de Valeres, mentioned in 1404, is said to be the origin of the Henry surname still found in the village (to be cross-checked). The village belonged to the parish of Ursins, then to that of Gressy after the Reformation. Under Bern it was part of the castellany and bailiwick of Yverdon. The inhabitants are nicknamed «les Mollards»; the explanation of this nickname varies between sources (knife-grinders in patois, or an allusion to a fortified hilltop settlement) (to be cross-checked).

History of Valeyres-sous-Ursins

undetermined date. A fortified refuge is built on the municipal territory.

Roman period. Traces of occupation of the site.

around 1141. First mention, «de Valeriis».

1151-1200. The village appears as «de Ualeres».

Middle Ages. Valeyres belongs to the lordship of Belmont and to the parish of Ursins.

1317. The village tithe is granted to the Carthusians of La Lance.

1334. First record of the Gressy or Buron mill, which operated until the 20th century.

1404. Mention of Henri de Valeres, whose name is said to have given rise to the Henry surname (to be cross-checked).

1415. Six neighbouring communities jointly decide to build a leper house on Valeyres land.

1536-1798. Under Bernese rule Valeyres belongs to the castellany and bailiwick of Yverdon; after the Reformation it comes under the parish of Gressy.

1550. The village has 11 hearths, including Sermuz.

1734. A silver communion cup is made by the Yverdon goldsmith François-Louis Pillivuit (to be cross-checked).

1798-2006. The village is part of the district of Yverdon.

1852. The school building is constructed.

1880. A dairy opens, operating until 1992.

1928. Adoption of the coat of arms: vert, two bars wavy argent, a cup or overall.

1967. The municipal school closes.

1972. A zoning plan is adopted.

1992. The dairy closes.

2008. With the district reform the municipality joins the district of Jura-Nord vaudois.

Population of Valeyres-sous-Ursins

Population of Valeyres-sous-Ursins

1550	11 hearths (households), including Sermuz
1764	30 hearths (households) (to be cross-checked)
1850	227
1900	189
1950	163
2000	180
2025	225

Historic sites in Valeyres-sous-Ursins

Gressy mill (or Buron mill). Mill recorded from 1334 on the Buron, in operation until the 20th century; the locality of Moulin-de-Gressy lies within the municipality.

Communion cup of 1734. Silver cup made by the goldsmith François-Louis Pillivuit of Yverdon, kept by the municipality and shown on its coat of arms adopted in 1928 (to be cross-checked).

Remains in Valeyres-sous-Ursins

Fortified refuge. Remains of a refuge of undetermined date; a prehistoric fortified settlement is listed in the inventory of cultural property of regional significance (to be cross-checked).

Roman traces. Traces of Roman occupation have been found on the municipal territory.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Valeyres-sous-Ursins »
• Feuille des avis officiels du canton de Vaud, « Alphabet des communes vaudoises : Valeyres-sous-Ursins »
• Wikipédia, « Valeyres-sous-Ursins »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Valeyres-sous-Ursins

• Gressy (VD)
• Ursins (VD)
• Pomy (VD)
• Belmont-sur-Yverdon (VD)
• Cuarny (VD)