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

Marros. — A mountain in the parish is called Marros. The name signifies a wild, mountainous region, whichwas undoubtedly suggested by the physical aspect of the district. English name - Montham.Meinciau .— A corruption, probably, of Mer-??? the edge of the field. Some think it is the plural of ??? abench implying elevated pieces of land. English name— Highfield.Moelfre. — A compound of mod, bare, and b' yn y hill. English name — Barehill.Myddfai. — Mydd-tnedd, meadow ; fai-mai, a place or open field. The place is noted for its celebratedphysicians in the twelfth century. Meddygon M the physicians of Myddfai is a proverbial form. English name— Meadham.Mydrim. — Meidrum is the true orthographyMynachdy. — The name signifies a monastery It is supposed that a cell to some ancient abbey; that wassituated here sometime ; hence the name, ???, the church of the cross, the name of the parish was ??? theplace is of Roman origin. English name - Monkham.Nantgaredig. — Nant, brook; garedig, loving, kind. English name— Lovingbrook.Nantycain. — Nant, brook; coin, clear, fair. English name — Clearbrook.Nantymwyn. — Mwyn, mine, ore. Lead mines abound in this district. English name — Leadbrook.Newcastle-Emlyn. — Opinions differ as to the origin of this name. It is a translation of the Welsh Castellnewydd-Emlyn.The present castle was built on the site of the old one by Sir Rhys ap Thomas, in the reign ofHenry VIII., hence the appellation Newcastle. Emlyn is variously derived. Some derive it from Emilianus, thename of a Roman nobleman that took up his abode here. Others derive it from the shape (llun) of the letter Mformed by the winding course of the Teivi in the vicinity of Newcastle, thus M tun, shape of the letter M. Themost plausible are the following derivations :—E; -, am, round, about; lyn-glynu, to adhere, to cleave. Theriver encompasses the town, and its slowness indicates, as it were, its preference to adhere to the town thanmake for its salty home. Another attempt: Emyl, border or edge, add the particle yn to it, and then we haveEmylyn; t omit the first y, and we have Emlyn, a borderer. Once more : Em, round; lyn, llyn, a lake, or a bodyof water, signifying water-circled. English name — Newcastle- on-Teivi.Pantyffynon. — Pant, a low place; y, the; ffynon, a well; from a farm so called which is situated in a lowplace. English name — Wellton.Penrhiwgoch. — Pen, top; rhiw, slope; gock, red. The suffix coch forms a part of many names in the district,as Garreg-goch, red-stone; Ffynon-goch, red-well,