Sommières-du-Clain

Commune in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

Location of Sommières-du-Clain

(2020–2026) René Morisset^[1]Area

26.21 km² (10.12 sq mi)Population

(2021)^[2]

742 • Density28/km² (73/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)INSEE/Postal code

86264 /86160

Elevation107–152 m (351–499 ft)
(avg. 115 m or 377 ft)¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Sommières-du-Clain (French pronunciation: [sɔmjɛʁ dy klɛ̃]) is a commune in the Vienne department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in western France.

Toponymy

It has been suggested that the name is derived from the Celtic words "Soli", suggested to be the name of a chieftain, and "maros" which means "big". However, there is ample evidence of the existence of a Celtic goddess named Solimara. Coins with her name and inscriptions dedicated to her have been found at Bourges. The maro/mara means "great", and Soli is from the Celtic "souli" meaning sun. It is far more likely that her worship was spread more widely throughout Gaul and that the name of the village is linked to an actual name/figure rather than one of conjecture.^[3]^[4]^[5]

References

^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
^ Le Patrimoine des communes de la Vienne en 2 tomes – Édition FLOHIC – 2002 – ISBN 2-84234-128-7
^ "Résultats des recherches - Persée".
^ "Dieux et déesses d'Aquitaine Ière - Deo Mercurio".