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

Pontypool. — Some derive the name from Ponty-pwll, which signifies a bridge thrown over a pool in theriver Llwyd. The correct wording is Pont-ap-Howel, the bridge of the son of Howell, from the bridge havingbeen built by Ap Howel. It is difficult to determine who this Ap Howel was. Some maintain that he was Dafyddap Howel, a parson of Trevethin, probably the Sir Dafydd of Pontnewynydd. It appears that there was in thereign of Queen Elizabeth a certain Lord Howell living somewhere in this neighbourhood, who left a deepimpress on this vicinity, and Sir Dafydd might have been Ap Howel, the son of Howell. The patronymic ap orab, son, was used very frequently in personal names in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. We meet theclipped form of it in Prichard, from Ap Richard; Pugh, from Ap Hugh; Prys or Price, from Ap Rhys; Powell,from Ap Howell, &c.; hence we may call this ancient town Powell's Bridge.Pontywain. — Pont, bridge; y, the; wain, meadow, down. English name — Downbridge.Portskewett. — A corrupted form of porth-is-coed, the port by or below the wood. In ancient times this port issaid to have been the chief port of Gwent. English name — Portwood.Raglan. — Some think it is a contraction of rhagor llan, which means the supreme or excellent church. It isspelt in ancient books Ragland, perhaps from rag, a fragment, a patch; and land. Or perhaps the latter part isa clipped form of llanerch, as it is in Penlan; therefore meaning a flat piece of land stretching forward inopposition to Penylan. This derivation is supported by the physical aspect of the district.Rhiwderin. — A compound of rhiw, slope; and taren, tump, knoll. English name — Tumphill.Rhydymere. — A compound probably of rhyd-y-march, the horse's ford. English name — Horseford.Rhymney. — This place takes its name from the river that flows through it. The root is rhytn, what stretchesround, what extends. It is cognate with the Gaelic word ruimne, marsh. Romney Marsh is now a large fertiletract of land situate at the most southern part of the county, but in olden times it was a worthless marshoverflowed at every tide. Ramsey, Old Romney, New Romney, and Rimina (Italy) are probably derived fromthe same source. The name Romney Marsh is one of the many instances we have of reduplication ofsynonyms. When we say Romney Marsh we say in effect Marsh Marsh, and are guilty of such tautology asthe Englishman is when he says River Avon, which is in effect River River. English name — Marshton.Risca. — The root, according to some, is rhisg, bark. Yr hesg-gae, the sedgy field, is another derivation.Others derive it from is-y-cae, below the field. We rather think it is a contraction of Yr Isca, the Latin form ofYr Wysg. Caerleon was called Isca Silurum.Rogerston. — This place derives its name from Roger de Berkerolles, a Norman lord, who built a smallcastle in the place, of which very few remains are now discernible.Scenfrith. — Some derive it from hesg-gae-ffridd, the sedgy place in the wood. We are inclined to think it isa clipped form of ys-gaw (n)-ffrith, which means a plantation of elder wood. English name — Elderwood.Shire Newton. — The ancient Welsh name was Tre-newydd-gelli-fach, the new town near the small grove.Perhaps shire was prefixed on account of the place having been in ancient times a detached portion of thelordship of Caldicot. Shire is derived from the Norse skera, to shear, or cut asunder. A division of land iscalled a shire, that which divides land from sea is called a shore.Sirhowy. — A compound of star, an articulate sound; hoyw, sprightly, lively; and gwy, water. English name—Sprightwater.Six Bells. — From a public-house so called. " The Bell" is a common tavern sign, selected from its allusionto races, a silver bell having been the winner's prize up to the reign of Charles II.St. Mellons. — The Welsh name is Llaneurwg, or more correctly Llan-Lleurwg, from Lleurwg ab Coel abGyffin Sunt, who, according to the " Welsh Chronicles” was the first to devise means to introduce Christianityto the Isle of Britain. He is recorded to have established a church here. The present name is derived from thededication of the church to St. Mrtlans.Tintern Abbey. — A ruined abbey of that name stands here. It is supposed a Cistertian abbey was foundedhere May 9th, 1131, by Walter de Clare, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and colonised from L'Aumone. SomeOrigin of Place-names in Wales & Monmouthshire Page 81