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

Penarth Halawg is the Welsh name, which means the headland above the lake. Garth, hill, is forciblyexpressed in the word lluarth, an entrenchment on the hill. Halawg comes from hal y salt marsh, referring tothe Saltney and other marshes, which were formerly covered by the sea. This place is world-renowned forbeing the residence of the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P. English name— Castle HillHalkin. — A corruption of the Welsh name Helygen, which means a willow, a willow tree. At the time of theNorman Conquest, the district was called Alchene, a contraction, probably, of Helygen. The village lies at thebase of a mountain called Helygen. English name — Willowton .Holywell. — A free translation of Treffynon, so called from St. Winifred's Well, of legendary renown. Theoriginal meaning of holy is healing. The water of this fabulous well was believed to be efficacious in the cureof all corporeal infirmities. It discharges 21 tons of water in a minute. It is covered by a beautiful Gothicbuilding, supposed to have been erected by Margaret, Countess of Richmond, mother of Henry VI-Wellstown would be the right English name.Hope. — The old name was Caergwrle, previously explained. Edward I. took possession of Castle EstynJune 1282, and bestowed it upon Queen Eleanor when on her journey to Carnarvon, where she gave birth toEdward II., the first Englishman that was titled Prince of Wales, from which circumstance the place wascalled Queen's Hope, and sometimes East Hope, to distinguish it from North Hope.Licswm. — A compound of Hug, from Greek lycyws y and Latin lux, a light, a gleam; and cwm, a dingle, avale, signifying a luminous vale. English name — Lightcombe.Llanasa. - Asa is an abbreviation of Asaph, a popular saint of the sixth century, who succeeded St. Cyndeyrnin the see of Llanelwy in 560. The church, and hence the village, were named in honour of him. Pantasaphtook its name from him. English name — Asaphton.Llangynfarch. — Cynfarch, a prince of the North Britons, and a saint of the sixth century, founded thechurch, which was afterwards destroyed by the Saxons in the battle of Bangor Orchard, 607. English name— Knighton.Llancilcen. — Cily a hidden place; Cen-cain, an abbreviation of Eurgain, niece to St. Asaph. She was thefounder of the church. Vide Cilcain. English name — Fairton.Llanerch-y-Mor. — Llanerch, a glade; y, the; mor, sea. This town, as its name signifies, is situate near thesea. English name — Seaton.Lloc. — The word means a mound, a dam, a fold. Lloc rhagy Llifeiriant, a dam against the flood. Llochi, toprotect. Lloches, a covert, a refuge. Lock-gates are employed on rivers and canals for penning back thewater and forming locks. The word here probably implies a sheepfold. English name — Foldham.Llong. — Llong a ship. The village derives its name from a small inn which had the figure of a ship in full sailon its sign-board. English name — Shipton.Meliden. — This place is supposed to derive its name from the dedication of the church to St. Meliden orMelid. English name— Melidton.Mancot. — A compound of man, a place, a spot; and coed, wood. English name— Spotwood.Mostyn. — A corruption, probably, of maes-ddin, which signifies the fortress field. Thomas ap Richard apHywel ap Ithel Fychan, at the suggestion of Rowland Lee, Bishop of Lichfield, was the first to adopt theplace-name as a personal name — English name — Fortfield.Mold. — Gwyddgrug is the Welsh name, which means " the conspicuous mount, or hill," so called from thegreat heap (now known by the name Bryn Btili, Bailey hill, from the word ballium, castle-yard), which is nearthe principal road. The prevalent opinion is, that this heap was once a tower of defence, which stood soconspicuously in the Vale of Alun, that it was called Y Wyddgrug. The Normans partially translated it MontHaut, or Mouthault, the high mount, and some think it was ultimately reduced to Mold. Others think it may bea corruption of mod iad, bald pate. The name is obviously one of the few memorials left us of the NormanConquest. English name — Highmound.Origin of Place-names in Wales & Monmouthshire Page 53