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

Loughor. — A corruption of Llychwr, which forms a part of the Welsh name Castell Llychwr. The castle wasbuilt on an eminence above the estuary of the river Llychwr. The name is a compound of llwch, an inlet ofwater, a lake, a lough; and dwr, water. The ancient name was Treafanc, from the great number of beaversabounding in the contiguous waters, afanc being the old Welsh name of the beaver. Some suppose the placeto have been the Leucamm of Antonius. English name — Castlelock.Laleston. — A translation of the Welsh Trelalys, the town of Lales. The parish and village were so called inhonour of Lales, who built the Neath and Margam Abbeys. Having received a portion of land, lie built amansion here, demolished the old church, and, in 1115, built a new one near his mansion.Leckwith. — This name is one of the many instances of the sad havoc the Normans played with Welshnames when they settled in Glamorgan in the eleventh century. It is a corruption of llechwedd, the steep of ahill, hill-side. English name — Slopeton.Lavernock. — Another Norman corruption of Llanwernog, which means a church on a meadow. Englishname — Meadow Church.Lisfane. — An Anglicized form of the Welsh Llys-faen. Llys, court; nfaen, stone. It appears that there was alarge stone in the vicinity, upon which the law court was held in ancient times; hence the name. Englishname— Stonecourt.Llancarvan. — "Bonedd y Saint" tells us the church was dedicated to Carvan. Iolo MSS. inform us that herethe first monastery was built in Britain by Germanus, from which circumstance the learned editor thinks thatLlancarvan signifies the church of Germanus, Carfan being a corruption of the saint's name. English name —Carvanton.Llanharan. — In some ancient MSS. it is written Llanaron from the church being dedicated to Julius andAaron. English name — Aaronton.Llanharry. — It appears that Llanarai was the ancient name, and that Garai was the founder of the church.English name— Garton.Llanilid. — The church was dedicated to Ilid f who, according to some, was the first to introduce Christianityto the Celts in the first century. English name— Ilidton.Llanwonno. — The church was dedicated to Gwynoy Gwyno having been changed to Wonos. English name— Whitby.Llanfaes. — It was anciently called Llan Ffagan Fach, in honour of Ffagan, the founder of the church. Thepresent name implies that Ffagan's Church was demolished, and the present one was built on a spot wherea memorable battle was fought. Maes, a high field, is to be understood here in a martial sense. English name— Churchfield.Llanedeyrn. — The church was dedicated to Edeyrn, the son of Gwrtheyrn, who flourished in the fifteenthcentury. He established a religious community of 300 members in this place. English name — Rexton.Llandaff. — The name signifies a church on the Taff. It was built, according to the " Welsh Chronicles," in theyear 171 by Lleurwg (Lucius), and the see is reckoned to be the most ancient in Britain. English name —Taffchurch.Llanddewi. — The church was dedicated to Dewi, the patron saint of Wales. English name — Davidston.Llandeilo-Talybont. — The church was founded by Teilo, bishop of Llandaff, in the sixth century. Talybonthas been already explained. English name — Bridgechurch.Llanrhidian. — From Rhidian, a student in Cenydd's seminary at Gower, and the founder of the church.English name — Rhidianton.Llanmadog. — The church was dedicated to Madoc, the son of Gildas. English name — Madocton.Llysworney. — A mutilation of the Welsh Llysy-fronydd, which, also, is a corruption of Llys Bro Nudd. BroOrigin of Place-names in Wales & Monmouthshire Page 63