Anyone that ever tried to solve this problem didn't get any further: the names PAJOT and PAJOTTENLAND have been created by F.J. DE GRONCKEL. No historic document refers to them. The description of the Pajottenland, as seen by De Gronckel is a gathering even a listing of villages without any historical common past. Each author will consequently give his/her own interpretation. Here are some examples taken at random:
Alphonse Wauters,a contemporary of F.-.J. De Gronckel, in his "Histoire des Environs de Bruxelles" (History of the Surroundings of Brussels) (1855):
"Payottenland is a nickname of academic origin". Wauters staters that the word payot refers to the word pays (country) as the word patriote refers to patrie .
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Arthur Cosyn in "Le Brabant Inconnu" (The Unknown Brabant) (1911) :
| "'t Payottenland " ( the country of the " pays" or comrades). According to the LAROUSSE (dictionary) the word "pays" is a familiar expression standing for compatriotes. |
Prof. Carnoy( a linguist):
According to the "Dictionnaire Wallon" ( Walloon Dictionary) the word "pagnotte" would mean a clayey wall reinforced by structures of wood and straw: thus "Payottenland" : the land of the "pagnottes"
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Dr. Jan Lindemans:
| In the southern part of Brabant youths greet each other shouting "Pay" . |
According to Larousse, van Dale and other dictionaries:
| paillote:a strawhut; paillot:a small straw matress (a bag filled with straw); pagnot,pageot, pajot, page: a bed. |
Bert van den Broeck, a painter and local historian of OPWIJK:
| " payots" : a contemptuous expression used by French-speaking citizens of Brussels for the peasants living in the Nort-west of Brabant in small and low houses made of clay and topped by a roof of straw. |
Dr. Mon de Goeyse: in his doctoral thesist "De Liederen van de Brabantse omwenteling van 1789" (1933) (Songs of the Brabant Revolution of 1789):
| This collection contains fourteen songs in which the words:"Pagnot, pagniot, paignot, païot, pajot, panjot et payot" appear. These words always stand for "mercenary soldiers of the occupying Austrian army". The meaning being consequently pejorative. Example of a popular song from Southern Brabant
Patriot Song Peasants, patriots,
Take courage, be brave!
No cowards, no " païottes",
We ignore fear!
Look at the silence of the lambs!
The " païot" stands up as a patriote!
(freely translated). In 1940 Mon de Goeyse, confirms his interpretation in the periodical "Naamkunde" (anthroponymy) stating once more that the word "pagnot" and his derivatives were most likely to mean "mercenary or not so warlike soldier" .
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Piet Borremans: introduction to de reedition of " 'T PAYOTTENLAND" ( Andreas Masiuskring 1987):
In the Archives of the City of Brussels: a song dedicated to the States of Brabant, back from exile, dated 18/12/1789: These are the "paignottes"and the traitors to our country.(translated freely)
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Maurits van Liedekerkein "Pajottenland" Davidsfonds (1999):
van Liedekerke digs up answers thanks to Twyffeloos himself. The latter indeed writes at the end of first chapter: "No-one will ever leave these regions, these picturesque hills(1) these fertile valleys without shedding a tear at saying good-bye. And when the very last hut(2) has disappeared at the horizon, he looks back a last time to contemplate the happy land where he spent peaceful days .(freely translated)
(1)= pagnotte: a word standing for the hills in certain regions of France. (2)= paillote
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CONCLUSION
F.-J. DE GRONCKEL did indeed know the meaning of the word "payot" be it a coward, a hut or a patriot. In his work he wanted to convince his readers of the "heroism" of the inhabitants of the Pajottenland. Historic truth is then of secondary importance. What imports above all is a hearty and enthusiastic welcome by all social classes. That's the reason why he sticks to the style of his time and his contemporary Hendrik Conscience: Flemish Romantism. He is not interested in making money: "Anyone may print this work provided it is revealed to all the inhabitants of the Pajottenland and the Flemish language-lovers" . He has achieved his goal: every inhabitant of the Pajotteland feels damn proud to be called "PAJOT"!
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