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

Cymry in the middle ages. In the elegy of Meilyr on " Gruffydd ab Cynan " (twelfth century) we find theepithet, " rex radau," king of gifts or graces. English name — Kingham.Ysbytty Ifan. — This village, situated on the banks of the Conwy, took its name from an ysbytty, hospital,that was founded here in 1189, by Ifan ab Rhys. Tir Ifan is another place in the parish. English name —John's Hospital.FLINTSHIRE.The name of this county still remains an etymological puzzle. Mr. Jones, in his " History of Wales," says ofthe Cambrians: — " It is probable that the national name of these settlers was Flytwr-Flyndi* whence cameFlintshire." Others think it was named after the castle, which was originally called Castellum- super-Flintum y- the castle near the sea. The county is exceedingly rich in minerals, especially lead and coal; but flintstoneshave not as yet been discovered there; therefore, we must seek elsewhere for the origin of the name. Somethink the name refers to the oblong form of the county, which, when looking on the map, reminds one of theancient Celtic knives which were made of flint.Adwy'r Clawdd. — Adwy, gap, breach; Clawdd 'r, a dyke. The place is in close proximity to Offa's Dyke;hence the name. English name — Dykeham.Argoed. — The name signifies a place on or above the wood, and is cognate with Arghait in Scotland.English name — Woodham.Bodidris. — From Idris, the son of Llewelyn Aurdorchog (the golden-torqued), one of the lords of Idris.English name — Idriston.Bodfari. — The common opinion is that the Roman station called Varis was here, and recent discoveries,corroborate the theory; hence the name. English name — Variston.Bettesfield. — The general opinion is that the field belonged to a woman called Betty. A field below the Bailyhill, called Cat Owaen, Owen's field, is supposed to be the place where Owen and his men encamped whenthey stormed the Baily castle. There are several fields in this district either affixed or prefixed by propernames. The right wording would be Bettysfield.Baggilt. — This name is a perversion of Bugeillt r which is a compound of bu, a cow, an ox, and geillt, theplural form of gallt, a cliff, an ascent. English name — Oxcliff.Broughton. — Pennant says that ere the Norman Conquest this place was held by Lovelot, and afterwardsby Brochetune. The latter name was probably conferred upon the place.Cilowen. — Cil, a hidden place. This name was given in honour of Owen Gwynedd, who camped there inorder to avoid the intrigues of Henry II. English name — Owenton.Caerwys. — Caer, a fortress, a city; wys-gwys, summons. Some think that the Romans had a station here,where they held their judicial courts. The bards, in time of yore, frequently held their sessions here. Aneisteddfod was held here by royal commission on the 2nd of July, in the 15th year of Henry VIII. The lastroyal summons for holding these national festivals was issued in the ninth year of the reign of Elizabeth.English name — Courtton.Caerfallwch. — A corruption probably of Caer, stronghold; Afallech, proper name. In the pedigree of SirOwain Tudor we find the name of " Afallech ap Afflech, ap Beli Mawr." This Afallech is supposed to be anephew of the renowned Caswallawn. On an adjacent hill called " Moel-y-gaer " there are some remains of aBritish stronghold, which is supposed to have been under the command of Afallech during the Romanincursions. Afallech, or Afallach, means an orchard. English name — Orchardton.Caergwrle. — Caer is plain; gwr, from cwr, a boundary; le-lle, a place, signifying the border fortress. An oldcastle bearing the name is situated about a mile from the village called Mope. It is supposed to have been aRoman outpost to Deva. English name — Borderfort.Origin of Place-names in Wales & Monmouthshire Page 51