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

to Exeter; the Ax to Axbridge; and the Ux joins the Thames near Oxford. We have an Esk in Donegal; anEsky in Sligo; and a Wisk in Yorkshire. The Gaelic and Erse word for water is uisge, of which whiskey isprobably a corruption. English name — Waterton.Victoria. — The place was anciently called Troed-rhiw'r-clawdd, which signifies a place near a dyke at thefoot of the hill. The present name is derived from the street that leads to the place from Ebbw Vale.Waun Avon. — A compound of waun, meadow, moor; and afon, river, from its proximity to the source of theriver Llwyd. English name — Rivermoor.MONTGOMERYSHIRE.The Welsh name is Trefaldwyn, Baldwin's town, so called in honour of Baldwin, a Norman general, who builta castle on the border of the county. In 1090, the castle was taken by Roger Montgomery, and the Saxonscalled the place afterwards Montgomery. Some seem to think the English name is a Norman corruption ofMynyddy Cymry, the mount of the Kymry.Aberhavesp. — The place is situate at the confluence of the rivers Havesp and Severn; hence the nameHavesp signifies a river whose channel is dry in the summer. English name— Hespmouth.Aberrhosan. — Abet, estuary; rhosan, the name of the river, which signifies the meadow brook. Englishname— Moorbrook.Abermule. — The village is situated near the point where the river Mule discharges itself into the Severn.Mule is probably a contraction of mudliw, changing colour, from which we have the English motley, Englishname — Motleyton.Blarnglesyrch. — A place situate on the rivulet Ghsyrch, from which it takes its name. Glesyrch is acorruption of glas-erch, dusky blue. English name- Dusky ham.Buttington. — The Welsh name is Talybont, x bridgend, from a bridge crossing the Severn nearby.Offa'sDyke passes through the parish, and here-abouts, separates England from Wales. During the Saxon periodit was called Butdigingtune; hence Buttington. The name signifies Archer's town.Bwlchyffridd. — Bwlch, pass, breach; y, the; ffridd, plantation, forest. English name — Passwood.Carno. — From cam, cairn, heap. Pennant says: " The mountains of Carno, like those of Gilboa, arecelebrated for the fall of the mighty. On a mountain called Mynydd y Garn or Garnedd, a huge heap of stoneswas raised to commemorate the death of a celebrated warrior. English name — Moundham.Cann Office. — An abbreviation of Cannon Office, so called from the cannons used by Cromwell's soldiersduring their encampment in the place.Ceri. — A corruption of Caerau, fortresses or walls, according to some; but some derive it from Cm HirLyngwyv, the name of Caradog's grandfather, who was the owner of the estate, which, as it was customarythen, was called after his name. Others derive it from ceri, the medlar tree, which, it is supposed, aboundedin the district in time of yore. We adopt the latter derivation. English name — Medlarton.Cemmaes. — A compound of cefn, back, ridge, and maes, a field. English name — Highfield.Clitterwood. — Perhaps from glitter and wood.Crigion. — A corruption of crugiau, heaps. English name— Heapham.Church Stoke. — From stoc, or stocce, the stem or main part of a tree. Woodstock, woody place.Cyfeiliog. — This pleasant vale is named in honour of Owen Cyfeiliog, who, in 1130, became the sole ownerof the estate through the death of his grandfather, Meredyth, the prince. The name, means "compacttogether." English name — Jointon.Origin of Place-names in Wales & Monmouthshire Page 83