the essential
Do we write Salerm or Salherm? Disappeared for several years from the territorial registers, the historic H of Salherm is making a comeback on the municipal coat of arms. An unusual story which allows the village to reconnect with the etymology of its name.
When you arrive in Salherm, a small village on the hills of Isle-en-Dodon, you are surprised by the road signs indicating either Salerm or Salherm, much to the dismay of Michel de Gaulejac, mayor of the village. How should it be written, with H or without H? If we take the name, “sal”, Salherm is an old rescue, a word which evokes salvation and security. The second syllable “erm” or “herm” can mean “erm” hermitage (was written hermitage in 1740); hermit or “herm” is an old local word which applied in the South, for uncultivated, uncleared land. The letter H has been historically present since the creation of the social security system. But since when did the “H” of Salherm disappear from his writing? “It’s a good question” assures the mayor of the village “During our research, we found civil status documents with the H or without H, the same for the parish registers”.
GDC – jfbin
With time and territorial reforms, the French administration gradually erased it for simplification. But Michel de Gaulejac, and his municipal council, submitted a file in 2023 to reintegrate the H. Very long journey passing through the Sub-prefecture, the Prefecture then the Departmental Council and the departmental archives to check if the request was justified. The file was then sent to the Ministry of the Interior for study. Solidly supported, it gave rise to a ministerial decree dated January 8, 2025, validating this request for change of name. “We had to push, go to the source, ask where the file was, I wanted for the residents to see this situation end quickly.”
-The village's quest to rehabilitate the H
Michel de Gaulejac confides in this long-term work: “For the file we did a lot of research first in the village archives, but also in parish registers. Associations that are still active have the h in their names or on administrative papers since 1978”. Thus SALHERM is now written with an H; good news for the Mayor and residents. “I am very proud of this success, it allows us to reconnect with our roots, to move forward with our traditions.”
All organizations must therefore integrate it, as well as GPS and road signs: “I waited for the official decree before ordering new signs, there will also be a bit of addressing to be done and also a bit of change on residents’ ID cards but nothing we can’t overcome.” The “battle” of the H of SALHERM is won.
