handbook of the origin of place-names in wales and monmouthshire

Church are generally dedicated to eminent Welsh saints; but the Nonconformist sanctuaries are generallydenominated after Scriptural place-names.Bodedern. — Bod, a dwelling-place, an abode; Edern, or Edeyrn, the son of Nudd, the son of Belt. He was awarrior and a poet, and before the end of his earthly career he became very devoted to religion, and built achurch in this place, which was dedicated to him, hence the name. English name — Kingham.Bodewryd. — This place is situated about four miles west of Amlwch. Bod, a dwelling; ewryd, a contraction,perhaps, of ewiar, smooth, clear, and rhyd, a ford; the name, therefore, signifies a mansion at the clear ford.English name — Clearford.Bodffordd. — Bod, a dwelling; ffordd, a way, a road; the name, therefore, signifies a residence by the way orroad. English name — Wayham.Bodwrog. — Bod, a dwelling; Twrog, supposed to be the son of Ithel Wael, of Brittany, to whom the churchis dedicated. The name signifies a fortified dwelling. English name — Towerham.Brynsiencyn. — Bryn, a hill; Siencyn, a Welshified form of Jenkin, which means little and pretty John.English name — Jenkin 's Hill.Capel Gwyn. — Capel, chapel; Gwyn, a contracted form, probably, of Gwyngenau, the son of Pawl, theelder; or, perhaps, gwyn here has an ecclesiastical meaning, signifying blessed. " Gwyn ei fyd y gwr,"blessed is the man. English name— Blisschapel.Capel Meugan. — Capel, chapel; Meugan, son of Gwyndaf Hen, the son of Emyr Llydaw. Meugan means“my song." English name — Praise-chapel.Ceirchiog. — This name means "abounding with oats.” The soil of the district is remarkable for yielding largecrops of oats. English name — Oatham.Cemaes. — This name is very common in Wales. It is a compound word, made up of cefn, back, ridge; andmats, a field, signifying a high field. Some think the name denotes ridged or arable land, from the fertility ofthe soil in the district. Others think it is a compounded form of camp, a feat, a game ; and maes, a field. TheWelsh had 24 games, or qualifications, that may be called their course of education. We rather think theword must be understood here in a martial sense, signifying a field on a high place, forming a vantagegroundfor military operations. The name indicates signs of the defensive conflict of the Kymry from the timeof Cadwaladr down to the fall of Llewellyn, with whom the independence of Cambria terminated. Englishname — Highfield.Cerryg Ceinwen. — Cerryg, stones; Ceinwen, the daughter of Brychan Brycheiniog, to whom the church isdedicated. English name — Fairstone.Cerryg y Gwyddyl. — Cerryg, stones; Gwyddyl, Irishmen. Caswallon Law-Hir (Long Hand), about the year500, fought valiantly against the Irish invaders in North Wales. Having achieved such a noble victory at acertain place in Mona, he built a church thereon, and called it Llany Gwyddyl, but now it is known by thename of Cerrygy Gwyddyl English name — Woodstone.Clegyrog. — The root, probably, is clegr, which means a rock, a cliff. Clegyrog, rocky, rugged; the name isquite descriptive of this craggy district. English name — Kockton.Coedana. — Coed, wood; Ana- Anne, supposed to be a Welsh lady to whom the parish church is dedicated.Anne or Ann is a contraction of Hannah, which means she who is gracious, merciful, good-natured. Englishname — Gracewood.Gaerwen. — A compound of caer, a fortified wall, a fortress; and wen, the feminine form of gwyn, white, fair,blessed, what is desirable or affords happiness. A fortified wall was certainly a desideratum when our forefatherswere, ever and anon, the objects of foreign onslaughts. English name — Whitfort.Gwredog. — The root may be gwar (gwareddawg), tame, mild, gentle; or, perhaps, it is derived fromgwaered, a declivity. We adopt the latter. The right wording, therefore, is Gwaeredog, a flat or bottom at thefoot of high ground. It is the name of several farms in Anglesey; as Gwaeredog, Amlwch, and GwaeredogOrigin of Place-names in Wales & Monmouthshire Page 14