Auxbrebis, originally also written as A Brebis when recognized as échevins (Alderman) and Patrician, Henri Pirenne - Histoire de la constitution de la ville de Dinant au moyen-âge p.104 thereafter as aux Brebis, is an old noble family name., Decq - ANNUAIRE DE LA NOBLESSE DE BELGIQUE, Volume 22, 1871 p. 334 The name has been attested as early as in the thirteenth century. They are illustrated as originating from the city of Dinant as merchants and copper beaters., Dictionnaire des noms de famille en Wallonie et à Bruxelles - p. 135
History Auxbrebis is an old noble family, who since the beginning of the fifteenth century, conquered for more than two hundred years as a territorial district ruling familyVille de Dinant (Official Local Website) and became a dynasty of ironmasters.Université de Liège. Séminaire de sociologie (1949) p. 27 They were made members of nobility with the title of viscount. The family was based in Anseremme (Belgium), a submunicipality of Dinant.Liège et Bourgogne: actes du Colloque tenu à Liège les 28, 29 et 30 octobre 1968 - p. 176 During that time, Dinant as well as Liège were part of the Southern Netherlands. Dinant was also known to be an important town included in the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. Before gaining ennoblement the Auxbrebis ancestors will have contributed to their uprising status; several family members held key positions within the magistrate or were mayor of Dinant.Annales de la Société archéologique De Namur - Tome trente-huitieme (1927) - p. 267 (288) The family was formerly known to be wealthy and powerful,Annales de la Société archéologique De Namur - Tome trente-huitieme (1927) - p. 267(288)Ville de Dinant (Official Local Website) although the precise role of the Auxbrebis is not well known. The family is presumed to have participated actively in the economic development of the region. Dinant was renowned for its coppersmiths known as the dinanderie industryAnciens pays et assemblées d'états - p.50 and according to writer Henri Pirenne's writings they probably covenanted with rich coppersmiths and traders with names from Dinant such as Salmier, Waudrechees and Charpentier being mentioned. Traders were known to have started their activities at several fairs such as at Champagne, Foire du Lendit (Lendit in Paris), Cologne (Germany), in the harbour of Dinant and especially in London (England) to where large quantities were exported.Henri Pirenne - Histoire de la constitution de la ville de Dinant au moyen-âge
The growing power of kings and princes in the fifteenth century is characterized by the constitution of the states.Henri Pirenne - Histoire de la constitution de la ville de Dinant au moyen-âge After an uprising in Dinant, Charles the Bold also known as le Téméraire attacked the city in August 1466. The city was plundered and destroyed, which caused a negative effect on the local dinanderie industrie, a sad defeat for the Auxbrebis family.Michel HUBERT - HISTOIRE DE LA DINANDERIE (SECONDE PARTIE) Le Téméraire is known to have overnighted at the home of one of the family members on the night before the attack. The attack on Dinant is also known as 'the sac of Dinant'Liège et Bourgogne: actes du Colloque tenu à Liège les 28, 29 et 30 octobre 1968 - p. 176
Subsequently, later generations are known to live in other villages further away returning or involved in trades such as blacksmithing or of charcoal, others through marriage or purchase got into higher ranking positions in the nearby villages,By Jean Germain, Jules Herbillon - Dictionnaire des noms de famille en Wallonie et à Bruxelles - p.287La Vie wallonne, Issues 44-45 (1970) p. 22 such as Aubrives,By Jean Germain, Jules Herbillon - Dictionnaire des noms de famille en Wallonie et à Bruxelles - p. 135 Philippeville (Samart),PHILIPPEVILLE SAMART Wartet,Revue historique ardennaise, Volume 2 - p. 248 Weillen and others.Revue historique ardennaise, Volume 2 - p. 248 An Auxbrebis branch is later also cited in Antwerp whom eventually moved to the Netherlands, including the capital city of Amsterdam.conterfeijtsel - (Archive: Gemeentearchief Amsterdam)H. C. A. THIEME - De Navorscher (1896) - p.59, p.60
Later generations are known to obtain the title of baron or jonkheer.Les délices du Païs de Liége et de la Comté de Namur - p. 372R. De Vegiano (seigneur d'Hovel), Nobiliaire des Pays-Bas et du Comté de Bourgogne, edited by J.S.F.J.L. de Herckenrode, p. 75
The Auxbrebis branch at Aubrives An Auxbrebis descendants branch also left its mark in the commune of Aubrives (France), due to a marriage alliance between Marie Auxbrebis and locally known Jacques Mestallart, receveur (recipient) and Prévôt of the Barony of Hierges in the seventeenth century.Annales de la Société archéologique De Namur - Tome trente-huitieme (1927) - p. 195 (215)
Lamoral d'Auxbrebis was known to be sieur (chief magistrate) in Aubrives.Inventaire sommaire des Archives départementales antérieures à 1790 - p. 283
Jehan d'Aubrebis financed the church (Saint-Maurice) of Aubrives to have it rebuilt in 1642 after it had been destroyed during one of the sieges from the ford of Charlemont (Givet) in 1640. An Auxbrebis coat of arms is still visible inside the church on the ceiling.Église paroissiale Saint-Maurice
The commune's current coat of arms contains two sheep which is a striking similarity to the Auxbrebis coat of arms which has three sheep. The name of the town Aubrives would derive from the Latin name Alba Ripa meaning white shore (rive blanche),Annales de la Société archéologique De Namur - Tome vingt neuvieme (1910) p. 102 (p. 122)Charles Bruno - Étude phonetique des patois d'Ardenne (1913) p. 45 (p. 63) although it also has a striking similarity to the name Aubrebis/Auxbrebis. Note that the river Meuse flows through Dinant as well as Aubrives.
Castles Since the fifteenth century, castle names known to be occupied by the family are Fineval (Finnevaux),Société Royale Sambre et Meuse - Le Guetteur Wallon p. 89 Sommière, Chaleux and (Mazechal (ref.req)). These castles are no longer known to be in existence.FINNEVAUX - Cadre historique civilDecq - ANNUAIRE DE LA NOBLESSE DE BELGIQUE, Volume 22, 1871 From the sixteenth century, a castle-farm still partly existent known as Ferme-Château d'Auxbrebis.Tourisme de Philippeville - Ferme-Château d'Auxbrebis In 1505 occupation of Château-Ferme de Samart.PHILIPPEVILLE SAMART In the seventeenth century several generations occupied Ferme-Château de Wartet and thereafter a castle gets taken over and extended in Weillen.Revue historique ardennaise, Volume 2 p. 248 Dating from the 16th and 17th century a castle was built by the Auxbrebis family known as Château-ferme de Neuville.https://connaitrelawallonie.wallonie.be/fr/lieu/philippeville?page=2 In the hamlet of Bauche in the commune of Évrehailles which is situated in the municipality of Yvoir a castle named as Le Harnoy was previously named as Le Château d'Aubreby.
Name variations The name Auxbrebis has been written in various ways throughout the centuries, such as Brebis, A Brebis, A burbis, Al Brebis, aux Brebis, Auxbrebis, Aubrebis, Aubreby, d'Aubreby, d'Auxbrebis.Anciens pays et assemblées d'états - p. 50Henri Pirenne - Histoire de la constitution de la ville de Dinant au moyen-âgeHistoire de Dinant, Volume 2 p. 73By Jean Germain, Jules Herbillon - Dictionnaire des noms de famille en Wallonie et à Bruxelles - p. 135Dictionnaire des noms de famille en Wallonie et à Bruxelles - p. 287
The most popular given name amongst men in the family is Laurent or Loren which has sometimes caused confusion amongst writers.Decq - Annulaire de la Noblesse de Belgique, Volume 22, 1871 The Dutch branch writes the name as Laurens.H. C. A. THIEME - De Navorscher (1896) - p. 59, p. 60
Literature By Jean Germain, Jules Herbillon - Dictionnaire des noms de famille en Wallonie et à Bruxelles - p. 135 By Jean Germain, Jules Herbillon - Dictionnaire des noms de famille en Wallonie et à Bruxelles - p. 287 Abbé Auguste SOUPART - Auxbrebis, famille dinantaise et mosane d'Aubrives à Liège, XIIIe-XIXe siècle. Familles notables d'Aubrives au XVIIE siècle, 2002 Université de Liège. Séminaire de sociologie (1949) p. 27 LÉON LAHAYE - Le Livre des fiefs de la prévoté de Poilvache Decq - ANNUAIRE DE LA NOBLESSE DE BELGIQUE, Volume 22, 1871 Henri Pirenne - Histoire de la constitution de la ville de Dinant au moyen-âge Liège et Bourgogne: actes du Colloque tenu à Liège les 28, 29 et 30 octobre 1968 - p. 176 Société Royale Sambre et Meuse - Le Guetteur Wallon p.89 Pierre Mardaga - Le Patrimoine monumental de la Belgique: Wallonie. Province de Namur Arrondissement de Dinant Annales de la Société archéologique De Namur - Tome trente-huitieme (1927) - p. 267 (288), p. 277(298) Annales de la Société archéologique De Namur - Tome trente-huitieme (1927) - p. 195 (215) Jean Le Carpentier - Histoire généalogique des Païs-Bas ou histoire de Cambray et du Cambresis (1664) p. 901 Archives départementales des Ardennes Paul Laurent - Revue historique ardennaise, Volume 2 - pp. 241, 247, 248 A. Picard et fils - Revue historique ardennaise, Volume 2 - p. 248 Inventaire sommaire des Archives départementales antérieures à 1790 - p. 283 Anciens pays et assemblées d'états - p. 50 conterfeijtsel - (Archive: Gemeentearchief Amsterdam) H. C. A. THIEME - De Navorscher (1896) - pp. 59, 60 Les délices du Païs de Liége et de la Comté de Namur - p. 372 La Vie wallonne, Issues 44-45 (1970) p. 22 R. De Vegiano (seigneur d'Hovel), Jacques Salomon, François Joseph, Léon de Herckenrode - Nobiliaire des Pays-Bas et du Comté de Bourgogne p. 75 Annales de la Société archéologique De Namur - Tome vingt neuvieme (1910) p. 102 (p. 122) Charles Bruno - Étude phonetique des patois d'Ardenne (1913) p. 45 (p. 63) Revue historique ardennaise, Volume 2 p. 248 Histoire de Dinant, Volume 2 p. 73
References
External links Ville de Dinant (Official Local Website) Les maires se suivent, mais ne se ressemblent pas! Robert Paris - Révolte et écrasement de la ville de Dinant rapportée par un historien tout ce qu’il y a de moins révolutionnaire ... Belgian surnames: origin and meaning Houyet - Tour Romane à Finnevaux FINNEVAUX - Cadre historique civil PHILIPPEVILLE SAMART Le château-ferme et la chapelle Sainte Apolline de Wartet Commune de Haybes - Madame de Cormont, entre légende et réalité.... Église paroissiale Saint-Maurice
Michel HUBERT - HISTOIRE DE LA DINANDERIE (SECONDE PARTIE) Tourisme de Philippeville - Ferme-Château d'Auxbrebis
Private website The descendance of "a Brebis" of Dinant