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

CONTENTS.PREFACE.Introduction 1 4Prefixes and Suffixes Wales and Counties 4 11Placenames in Wales 11 13Anglesey 13 18Brecon 18 25Cardigan 25 31Carmarthen 31 38Carnarvon 38 45Denbigh 45 51Flint 51 55Glamorgan 55 71Merioneth 71 75Monmouth 75 83Montgomery 83 87Pembroke 87 95Radnor 95 98List of Subscribers 99 102Appendix 103THE Author's chief reason for publishing this work may be stated very briefly.About two years' ago the proprietor of the Merthyr Express news paper announced in his valuable paper thefollowing competition:—"For the best Essay in English on the origin of the Names of Places in Wales, giving their English equivalents1st Prize, £5 5s.; 2nd Prize, £2 2s."Only two essays were received, one from '* Llywarch ab Llewellyn " and the other from "Taliesin." Theadjudicators decided that Taliesin has brought to bear in the treatment of the subject incomparably greaterliterary resources than his competitor, and has made a praiseworthy attempt to supply the topographical andhistorical information, tradition, and folk-lore associated with places which assist in elucidating the origin ofnames, even when they do not effectively clear up their etymology. On the whole, the adjudicators havederived much pleasure from the perusal of this Essay, and think it exhibits an amount of research whichentitles it to the first prize."The Essay was subsequently printed in several chapters in the Merthyr Express, with the followingappellatory note as a standing heading for each chapter: "The Author of this Essay, assuming that hisattempts at deriving the origin of many place-names are imperfect, and some, perchance, incorrect, invitescriticism thereon, either private or public Since many of the villages in the rural districts have been omittedowing to the Author's imperfect topographical knowledge of the sequestered nooks, any information relatingto the same would be gladly received.”• “In the multitude of counsellors there is safety.'"It is to be regretted that very few criticisms were received. The full meaning of Byron's words, "Critics all areready-made," was not evident."To-morrow the critics will commence." In writing upon a subject, so full of intricacies and difficulties, theAuthor is far from being satisfied with his etymological attempts in many instances Far be it from him to say:"I am Sir Oracle,And when I ope my lips, let no dog bark."His experience oft-times, when exploring the different fields of research, is aptly described in Milton's words:"The oracles are dumb,No voice or hideous humRuns thro' the arched roof in words deceiving."Origin of Place-names in Wales & Monmouthshire Page 2