Yens

Origin of the name Yens

First mentioned around 1005 as «Idens» (a deed of 22 May 1004 is also cited, to be cross-checked); later forms are «Hiens» and «Hyens». The name probably comes from a Germanic personal name such as Ido or Ito, with the Germanic suffix -ingōs (to be cross-checked). The old German name was «Jens».

Founding of Yens

No founder is known. The area has yielded prehistoric and Roman remains. In the Middle Ages Yens belonged to Vufflens-le-Château, then to Aubonne from 1296; squires of Yens are attested from the 13th to the 15th century, and Nicolas de Yens, canon of Lausanne, is the first known lord of the place (1219).

History of Yens

prehistory. Prehistoric, then Roman, archaeological remains in the area.

1005. First mention, as «Idens».

1219. Nicolas de Yens, canon of Lausanne, first known lord of the place.

1228. First mention of the parish church of Saint-Jacques.

13th-15th century. Squires of Yens are attested.

1296. Yens passes from Vufflens-le-Château to Aubonne.

1416. The village has 68 hearths (households).

1453. It has only 30 hearths (households) left, after periods of famine and epidemics.

1536. Bernese conquest; the village belongs to the barony of Aubonne. At the Reformation the church becomes an annex of Saint-Livres.

around 1600. Rebuilding of the church, largely destroyed by fire at the end of the 16th century; the bell tower had survived.

1628. Great famine: the inhabitants are said to have ground acorns to make bread.

1701. Bern acquires the barony of Aubonne; Yens belongs to the bailiwick of Aubonne until 1798.

1799. Yens has a municipal executive.

1815. Creation of a municipal council (legislative).

1862. Construction of a school building designed by the architect Charles Mauerhofer.

1869-1870. Restoration of the church, with neo-Gothic windows on the south façade.

1895. Yens becomes a halt on the Bière-Apples-Morges railway.

1919. Official adoption of the arms of the former squires of Yens.

1931. Construction of the village hall.

1978. Construction of the municipal building.

2008. The new Vaud districts come into force; Yens remains in the district of Morges.

Population of Yens

Population of Yens

1416	68 hearths (households)
1453	30 hearths (households)
1764	409
1850	709
1900	676
1950	559
2000	965
2025	1'481

Historic sites in Yens

Saint-Jacques church. Parish church mentioned in 1228, an annex of Saint-Livres from the Reformation. Largely destroyed by fire at the end of the 16th century, except for the bell tower, it was rebuilt around 1600 and restored in 1869-1870.

School building. Built in 1861-1862 to plans by the architect Charles Mauerhofer (1831-1919), near the church.

Village listed in the ISOS. The whole village of Yens is listed in the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites (ISOS).

Remains in Yens

Prehistoric and Roman remains. The municipal area has yielded prehistoric and Roman archaeological remains.

Legends of Yens

The «Fumas». The inhabitants are nicknamed «Fumas» («smoked» in Vaud patois). According to tradition, the nickname goes back to the famine of the early 17th century (1628), when farmers roasted and ground acorns to make flour. They are also called «lè Tiu-Dzalâ» and «lè Tiu-Mi-Dzalâ», because the village is exposed to the bise wind.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Yens »
• Feuille des avis officiels du canton de Vaud, « Yens » (armoiries et historique)
• Commune de Yens, « Étude historique » (temple, collège)
• Wikipédia, « Yens »
• Wikipedia (EN), « Yens, Switzerland »
• Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Yens

• Villars-sous-Yens (VD)
• Lavigny (VD)
• Bussy-Chardonney (VD)
• Denens (VD)
• Saint-Livres (VD)