Saint-Geniès-de-Fontedit derives its name from a combination of Saint Geniès (Genesius of Arles, a 3rd-century martyr) and Fontedit (from Latin Fonte adicta, meaning "fountain of the decree"). The village likely formed around a church dedicated to St. Geniès and a fountain marked with a Carolingian-era adictum (official decree). Early records from the 11th century refer to it as Sanctum Genesium de Fontedicta or Sant Ginieis de Fontazeicha in Occitan.
Consular Institution:
By 1247, the village was governed by a consular institution based on a charter written in Occitan, later elevated to a consulate in the 17th century. The remnants of the Consular Tower still overlook the village fountain.
Feudal Ownership:
In 1323, the Thézan family acquired the village, establishing a feudal lordship centered around a castle (partially redesigned in the 17th century). Under Louis XV, the Thézan family was granted the title of Marquis.
Religious Brotherhoods:
Two medieval brotherhoods played a key role in community life: the Brotherhood of the Blessed Sacrament (founded in 1305) and the Brotherhood of the Pilgrims of St. Jacques (reformed in 1635). The village also served as a stop on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela
The parish church of Saint-Geniès-de-Fontedit features a bell tower covered in green glazed tiles, locally produced and assembled. This distinctive green-tiled roof, which shimmers in the sunlight, resembles the skin of a frog. As a result, the inhabitants were playfully nicknamed "mange-grenouilles" (frog-eaters) by neighboring villages.