Thierrens

Origin of the name Thierrens

The name Thierrens is attested for the first time between 1004 and 1007 in the Latinized form « Teoderinco ». Two hypotheses about its origin coexist in the sources consulted, without either being certainly favored: a pre-Latin origin, which would give a meaning close to « Teoder's spring », and a Burgundian origin, which would link the name to a personal name or a deity (Theudarius) and would mean « among Theudar's people ». Both hypotheses need to be cross-checked. Intermediate forms of the name are also reported by a single source: Tierens (1150), Tyerens and Thyerens (1154), Tierrens (1228) and Tierreins (1238), information that needs to be cross-checked.

Founding of Thierrens

Thierrens has no founding charter and no identifiable founder: like most villages of the Gros-de-Vaud and the Broye region, it took shape gradually in the early Middle Ages around its church, dedicated to Saint Martin. Around 1150, the bishop of Lausanne transfers the patronage of this church to the priory of Saint-Maire in Lausanne. In 1177, this transfer is confirmed by Pope Alexander III. In 1227, the local seigneury passes by marriage to the cathedral chapter of Lausanne, which remains its lord for the rest of the Middle Ages; some sources, which do not agree with each other nor with the Dictionnaire Historique de la Suisse, mention an earlier seigneury of Belmont under the lords of Grandson, or conversely a passage to the family of Gruyère, two different versions that need to be cross-checked. In 1461, the Duke of Savoy exercises control over the tithe levied at Thierrens. Unlike other neighboring localities that were the seat of their own castellany or bailiwick, nothing in the sources consulted indicates that Thierrens had an independent regional administration before the Bernese era: after the Bernese conquest of the Pays de Vaud in 1536, the village is simply incorporated, like many other localities, into the vast Bernese bailiwick of Moudon, whose administrative chief town was the town of Moudon and not Thierrens.

History of Thierrens

Bronze Age. An early human presence on the village's present-day territory is mentioned by a single source, to be cross-checked. A road dating from Roman times is also said to have crossed the area, information based on a single source, to be cross-checked.

1004-1007. First written mention of the place, in the Latinized form « Teoderinco ».

around 1150. The bishop of Lausanne transfers the patronage of the Saint-Martin church of Thierrens to the priory of Saint-Maire in Lausanne.

1177. Pope Alexander III confirms this transfer of patronage.

1227. The local seigneury passes by marriage to the cathedral chapter of Lausanne. An earlier seigneury of Belmont under the lords of Grandson, or, according to another source, a passage to the family of Gruyère, are mentioned but not confirmed consistently, to be cross-checked.

1461. The Duke of Savoy exercises control over the tithe levied at Thierrens.

1536. Bernese conquest of the Pays de Vaud: Thierrens is incorporated into the Bernese bailiwick of Moudon.

16th century. The Saint-Martin church is rebuilt on the foundations of a 12th-century building; the present parsonage also dates from this period.

18th century. Wolves are said to have still been present in the region at this time, information based on a single source, to be cross-checked.

25 January 1798. « Affaire de Thierrens »: local guards kill two French hussars accompanying an aide-de-camp of General Ménard. This incident serves as a pretext for the entry of French troops into Switzerland on 28 January 1798.

1798-2006. Thierrens is part of the district of Moudon.

2006-2008. The district of Moudon is dissolved as part of the reform of the Vaud districts; Thierrens joins the new district of Gros-de-Vaud.

1992. Construction of a primary and secondary school building, information based on a single source, to be cross-checked.

2000. About 61% of the village's workforce works outside the municipality, a sign of an evolution toward a residential function, information based on a single source, to be cross-checked.

2005. The agricultural sector still accounts for about 30% of jobs in Thierrens.

2009. The Thierrens temple and parsonage are listed as cultural heritage assets of regional importance.

2011-2012. The sources consulted do not agree on the village's population during this period (see the population table below), an unresolved discrepancy, to be cross-checked.

1 January 2013. Thierrens merges with Chanéaz, Chapelle-sur-Moudon, Correvon, Denezy, Martherenges, Neyruz-sur-Moudon, Peyres-Possens and Saint-Cierges to form the new municipality of Montanaire, losing its status as an independent municipality but becoming its chief town and administrative seat.

Population of Thierrens

Population of Thierrens

1550	30 hearths (households)
1764	300
1850	720
1900	607
1950	466
1970	375 (to be cross-checked)
2000	579
2011	716 (to be cross-checked)
2012	619 (to be cross-checked, at odds with the 2011 figure above)
2021	888 (to be cross-checked)

Historic sites in Thierrens

Saint-Martin Church. Building rebuilt in the 16th century on foundations dating back to the 12th century. Its vault bears a very old representation of Christ surrounded by the four symbolic living creatures. A 14th-century stained-glass window depicting the Crucifixion is said to be preserved there, information based on a single source, to be cross-checked.

Thierrens parsonage. Parsonage dating from the 16th century, listed together with the temple as a cultural heritage asset of regional importance in 2009.

Administrative chief town of Montanaire. Since the 2013 merger, Thierrens has hosted the seat of the Montanaire municipal administration, on the Rue de la Porte. The village is today recognized as a local center in the regional master plan, with a primary school, shops, restaurants and medical services, information based on a single source, to be cross-checked.

Historic road junction. The village lies at the crossing of old roads linking Moudon to Yverdon and Échallens to Payerne, information based on a single source, to be cross-checked.

Remains in Thierrens

Early Middle Ages burials. Burials dating from the early Middle Ages were uncovered beneath the Saint-Martin church.

La Carrière necropolis. A necropolis was discovered at the place called La Carrière, on the village's territory.

Sources

• Dictionnaire Historique de la Suisse - Thierrens (version française)
• Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz - Thierrens (version allemande)
• Wikipédia (français) - Thierrens
• Wikipedia (allemand) - Thierrens
• Wikipedia (anglais) - Thierrens
• Commune de Montanaire - Les 9 villages qui forment Montanaire

Other villages near Thierrens

• Correvon (VD)
• Saint-Cierges (VD)
• Neyruz-sur-Moudon (VD)
• Denezy (VD)
• Chanéaz (VD)