Dechy

Dechy () is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.

Population

Toponymy

The town has been named, Diptiacum in 899, (Cartulary of Saint-Amand, Miroeus), Diptiacum in 906, Diciacum in 1097, Diptiacum in 1107, Dichis in 1181 (Chronique Gislebert), Dici in 1205

It probably comes from an old *Deppiacum, based of the gallic name Deppios followed from the suffix -acum (from the gallic -acon) of location and property, with the global meaning « property, farm of Deppios ». The suffix -(i)acum has generally finished as -y in the North (-ecque in the previous dutch speaking area and -eke in flemish), the plural form, appeared later -iacas to -ies.

History

Middle Age

The archeological statistics of the Nord departement of 1867 indicate:

• Since 7th century, Dechy containing maybe Férin belonged to the Saint-Amand Abbay. The count of Ostrevent had advocatus that was explaining Dechy and Férin of Hainaut county, although near of Douai.
• A hospital was already existing in 1218, the patient care were made by the sisters of the Abbaye of Beaulieu in Sin-le-Noble
• In 1205, the abbe Jean gives to his vassals of Dechy and Férin a penal law copied of the one in Douai.

Heraldry

See also

• Communes of the Nord department

References