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

Llanferres. — The church was probably dedicated, about the latter end of the fourth century, to Berres, adisciple of St. Martin, the Hungarian. Dr. John Davies, the eminent antiquarian, and the author of the Welsh-Latin Dictionary, was a native of this, parish. English name — Berreston.Llangwm. — The name signifies a church in the vale or dingle. English name — Churchcombe.Llanddoged. — The church was dedicated to Doged, a descendant of Cunedda, and a saint of the sixthcentury. " Bonedd y Saint " calls him Doged the King. English name — Shareton.Llanefydd. — Nefydd, a descendant of Brychan,. and a saint of the fifth century, founded the church. Englishname — Shipton.Llansannan. — Senally or Senanus, was a saint and an Irish bishop of the sixth century, and it is calculatedthat he lived in Wales from the fact that this church was dedicated to him. English name — Senanton.Llanfair-Talhaiarn. — The church is dedicated to St. Mary. Talhaiarn was a celebrated bard and saint of thesixth century. He was also a chaplain to Emrys Wledig; but after the latter was killed, he became a hermit,and founded the church which bears his name. English name — Talhaiarn, or Ironfront.Llanarmon-yn-Ial. — The church was dedicated to St. Garmon, bishop of Auxerre. Ial, the name of thecantrev, means an open space or region. Tir ial, open land. Yale, Derbyshire, is derived from the same root.Ial is the differentia added to distinguish the place from the other Llanarmon. The " Topographical Dictionaryof Wales " says that " within a niche in the outer wall of the church is the figure of a bishop, six feet fourinches in height, which is said to be that of St. Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre, who, with St. Lupus, .gainedover the Picts and Saxons, at Maesgarmon, near Mold, in the year 420, the celebrated victory called byhistorians Victoria Alleluiatica. M English name — Garmonton.Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog. — The village is situated on the river Ceiriog; hence the differentia. The parishis supposed to have been the burial-place of St. Germanus. English name — Garmonham.Moelfre. — Moel, bare, bald; fre-fryn, hill. English name — Baldhill.Minera. — The primitive name of this place was Mwyn-y-Clawdd, the mine-ditch, in allusion to Offa's Dyke,which passes through it; and the present name is probably derived from the abundance of minerals itcontains. English name — Mineham.Mochdre. — Mock, quick, swift; or, perhaps, it is the plural for pigs; dre-tref, a dwelling-place. English name— Swineham.Marchwiail. — March, perhaps, is the same as mare, a mark, and wiail is the plural of gwialen, a rod.Viewing the geographical position of this place, being in close proximity to Wat's Dyke, we are of opinion thatthe line of demarcation was made of rods or poles ; hence the origin of the name. English name — Markton.Moss. — A corruption, perhaps, of ffos, a ditch or trench. Ffos is cognate with the Latin fossa, a ditch. Mossis the Norse for bog. English name — Bogton.Nantglyn. — Nant, brook; glyn, glen, vale. English name — Brookvale.Oernant. — Oer, cold; nant, brook. English name — Coldbrook.Penrhos. — A compound of pen, head, end; ai rhos, a meadow, a moor. English name — Moorsend.Pensarn. — The name signifies the end of the Roman road. Castell-y-cawr, the giant's castle, which isconsidered to be one of the most complete Roman camps in the kingdom, is in this vicinity. English name—Viaton.Pentrefoelas. — Pentre, village; moel, a pile, conical hill; las-glas, blue. Many of our mountains and hillsbear the name moel, such as Moel Siabo Y Foel (Cwmavon), Moelyfamau, Moelwyn, Y Fc Goch, and theFoel Las. English name — Hillham.Pontllogell. — Pont, bridge; llogell, pocket, called, probably, from the pedestrians being obliged put theirOrigin of Place-names in Wales & Monmouthshire Page 49