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

Llanilar. — The church was dedicated to St. Hilary, who flourished in the sixth century; but one writer derivesliar from ill, a particle implying two, both, and double, and dr, land; hence the name signifies two portions ofland, or territories. The parish contains two hamlets bearing the names Llanilar Uchaf (higher) and LlanilarIsaf (lower). English name — Hilarton.Llanina. — The church was dedicated to Ina, king of the West Saxons. English name — Inaton.Llanllwchhaiarn. — Llwchhaiarn was a saint of the seventh century. Iolo MSS. give him the honour ofhaving founded many churches, among which the above is named. English name — Ironton.Llanllyr. — Llyr Metini flourished about the end of the fifth century, and founded a church and nunnery at theabove place. English name — Lyrton.Llanrhystyd. — The church was dedicated to Rhystyd, a descendant of Hywel ap Emyr Llydaw, whoflourished in the sixteenth century." Rhystyd Sant, rhyw astud serch,A roe lln ar ryw lanerch. "i.e. — St. Rhystyd, with the love of pious zeal, Would with a line enclose some sacred spot. English name —Rhystyd.Llansantffraid. — The common opinion is that the church was dedicated to Sanffraid, but we are inclined tothink it was dedicated to St. Ffraid, who was called Bridget or Bride, a celebrated Irish saint. English name —Brideton.Llanwenog. — St. Gwenog is recorded to have founded the church. English name — Gwenogton.Llanwndws. — Wndws is a corruption of Gwynws, the name of the saint who founded the church in the sixthcentury. English name — Whitton.Llanwnen. — Wnen is a corruption of Gwnen, the name of the saint to whom it is supposed the church isdedicated. English name — Risby.Llechryd. — Llech, a stone; rhyd, a ford, a stream. This place is generally pointed out as the scene of aterrible engagement that took place between Rhys ab Tewdwr and the three sons of Bleddyn ab Cynvyn, in1087, in which the sons of Bleddyn were defeated, and two of them slain on the field. In course of time it isthought a stone was raised here in memory of Riryd, one of Bleddyn's sons. Some think the name is derivedfrom the river being seamed with ledges of rock. English name — Stoneford.Llwyndafydd. — Llwyn, bush; Dafydd, David; from an ancient house in the place, which belonged to Dafyddab Ieuan, and where he entertained the Earl of Richmond on his way to Bosworth field. English name —Davidston.Merthyr Cyflefyr. — Merthyr, martyr; Cyfiefyr, name of a descendant of Brychan, who is supposed to havebeen murdered at a place ever since called after his name. English name — Martyrham.Mochros. — Moch, pigs; rhos, a meadow, a moor. Tradition says that St. Dyfrig was warned in this place byan angel to build a church in the name of the Trinity, where he would see a white sow lying with hersucklings; hence the name. If we take mdch as an adjective, it means quick, abrupt. Therefore, the namesignifies a sloping meadow. English name — Pigmoor.Mydyreilin. — The name, probably, means the eilin (arm) of the river Mudyr. Penelin is the Welsh for elbow.The crooked course of the river here reminds the observer very vividly of a man holding his arm in a sling.Myllyr is a corrupt form of Mudyr, the silent water. English name — Armton.Nantcwnlle. — Nant, brook; Cwnlle, a corruption of Cunllo, an eminent British saint of the fifth century. Theparish is intersected by the brook, and the church is dedicated to Cunllo. English name — Brookham.Nanteirw. — This place derives its name from the brook Eirw. Nant, brook; eirw, eirwy, a. foaming cataract.Origin of Place-names in Wales & Monmouthshire Page 29