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

English name— Clearwater.Gwravog. — This name has suffered a little from mutation. Gwar, a ridge; af from haf, summer; hafog,summer-like. English name — Sunnybank.Halfway. — This village derives its name from an inn so called, which is situated halfrway between Trecasteland Llandovery.Hay. — The original name was Gelli, which signifies an enclosed park or forest, containing wood or boscagewithin a fence or pale; a grove; and the present name is supposed to have been derived from the Norman-French Haye or Hate, which originally meant the hedge or ihclosure itself only, but in course of time itsmeaning was amplified, and the name was used to denote the wood and ground inclosed. Hater, to inclose.Here we perceive the Welsh name supplanted by that of the Norman Castle. English name — Groveham.Kilmery. — A corruption of Cil-Mary, which signifies St. Mary's Church. English name— Mary's church.Libanus. — This place probably derives its name from a sacred edifice so called, which belongs to theCongregational body.Llanafan Fawr. — The church was dedicated to bishop Ieuan or Ivan, whose name is found in the list of theprelates of St. David's during the tenth century, and who is supposed to have been murdered by the Danes ina meadow on the Whefri side, a little below the vicarage house, where a maen hir was placed, obviously, inmemory of the martyred bishop. On an altar- tomb in the churchyard the following inscription is discernible: "Hie jacet Sanctus Avanus Episcopus" English name — Evanston.Llanamlech. — Ami, many; llech-lech, a stone. The church is built upon the strata of the rock, and thechurchyard contains a great number of stones and fragments of slates. There is a village called Llechfaen inthe same parish, which supports the given derivation. The English equivalent of the former would beStonechurch, and the latter Stoneham.Llanbedr Ystradyw. — Llanbedr, St. Peter's church. Ystradyw, or more correctly Ystrad-wy, the vale ofwaters, was added to distinguish the parish from St. Peter's at Painscastle, Glasbury, &c. English name —Churchvale.Llandefaelog Fach. — The old church was dedicated to St. Tyfaelog. It was re-built in 1831. The village isbeautifully situated on the river Honddu. English name— Tyvaelogton.Llandefalley. — Def alley may be a corruption of Tyvaelog, to whom this church was probably dedicated.English name — Tyvaelog.Llandeilo Arfan. — The church is dedicated to St Teilo. Arfan is probably a contraction of At Ma wen. Thechurch is situated near the conflux of three brooks, the Mawen, the Ethryw, and Cilieni. This derivation issupported by the following fact: In the register book of Devynock the following may be seen, " Siwan Morgande Nant y Sebon in Llandeilo ar Fawen. sepulta est cet. 96, octris. 1726." Mawen signifies broad water.English name — Broadwater.Llanddew. — It is sometimes spelt Llanthew. Some think the right wording is Llandduw, the church of God,or the church of the Holy Trinity. We have no instance of a church thus dedicated. The name is probably anabbreviation of Llanddewi, the church of St. David's. It appears that Llanddew has been a seat and house ofthe bishop of St. David's. English name--Davidston.Llanelli. — The church is supposed to have been dedicated to Ellyned or Eilineth, a daughter of Brychan.Some think it was anciently called Llanellyned, of which Llanelly is an abbreviation. English name — Eilineth.Llanfeugan. — Meugan, the son of Gwyndaf Hen, was a saint of the sixth century, and founded the churchwhich bears his name. English name — Meugan.Llanfihangel Cwmdu. — Llanfihangel, St. Michael's church. Opinions differ as to Cwmdu, the black orgloomy vale. The old inhabitants very strongly objected to the name Cwmdu, as the following couplet shows:—Origin of Place-names in Wales & Monmouthshire Page 21