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

Glyn Trefnant. — Glyn, a glen, a narrow vale; Trefnant is a corruption of tri-nant, three brooks, so calledfrom the confluence of three brooks in the place. English name — Glenbrooks.Gribbin. — A compound of crib, crest, summit; y, the ; bryn, hill; signifying a place situated high on the hill.Crib mynydd, the summit of a mountain. English name — Cresthill.Guilsfield. — The Welsh name is Cegidfa, signifying a place of hemlock, or, perhaps, it is a compoundoicegid, the bird witwal; and fan-man, place. Some derive Guilsfield from St. Gulan's field. Perhaps it is acompound of guild, an incorporation, and field.Gungrog. — A corruption of Gwaun-y-grog, the meadow of the cross, so called from the supposition that across was erected here in the middle ages in connection with the Ystrad Farchell monastery. English name— Crossmeadow.Gwestydd. — From gwest-ty-ddin, the camp resting-place. English name — Campham.Gwern-y-Bwlch. — Gwern, a swamp, a bog; y, the; bwlch, a pass, a gap. The name is derived from amountain-pass in the district, from which a distant view of Cader Idris is obtained. English name —Passmeadow.Gwern Esgob. — Gwern, a swamp, a meadow; Esgob, a bishop. English name — Bishop's Meadow.Hirnant. - Hir, long; nant, a brook. The village is situated in a narrow valley, and watered by aninconsiderable stream, tributary to the Tanat. English name — Longstream.Llangadfan. — The church was dedicated to St. Cadfan. The " Myvyrian " says: — " This Cadvan, being anobleman and son-in-law of the king of Armorica, came over with Uthr Bendragon, or his son king Arthur, anda great number of pious and learned men in his retinue, and chose for his residence Ynys Enlli (that is themonastery in the Isle of Bardsey), where he was an abbot, and many of his followers had churchesdedicated to them' Some of his followers were Cynon, Padarn, Tydecho, Dochtwy, Mael, &c. Cadvan meansthe battle-place. English name — Warriorston.Llangurig. — A village near Plinlimmon. The church was dedicated to Curig, an eminent saint of the seventhcentury. Eisllddfa Curig, Moel Gurig, in the same vicinity, bear his name. Curig-curiog means bearing pain oraffliction. English name — Painton.Llanfyllin. — From Myllin, to whom the church was dedicated. Myllin is an old Welsh word implying a violet.English name — Violaton.Llanwyddelen. — From Gwyddelan, the patron saint of the church. Gwyddelan is probably a compound ofgwydd, wood, and elain, a young hind, a fawn. English name — Fawnwood.Llanidloes. — Id-loes, a saint of the seventh century, is the patron saint of the church. Professor Rhys refersthe prefix id to the Skr. yudh, " to fight ;" and Ioes is probably a mutation of glwys, full of love, signifying oneeager to fight; or perhaps the suffix is gloes, a pang, a pain. We adopt the former. English name — Mileston.Llandinam. — Dinam is referred by some to the Roman Dinutn, a frequent termination in place-names inGaul and Britain, equivalent to the English Tune, now ton, town, &c. English name — Churchton.Llangynog. — The church is dedicated to Cynog the eldest son of Brychan. English name — Kynogton.Llanwynog. — Gwynog, son of Gildas, a saint of the sixth century, is the patron saint of the church. Englishname — Whitham.Llandysilio. — The church is dedicated to Tysilio, the son of Brochwel Ysgythrog. English name — Tysilton.Llanfair Caereinion. — Llanfair, a church dedicated to St. Mary. Caer, fortress; Einion, the name of the rivernear which the town is situated. The latter part of the name is derived from an old British encampment, aboutthree miles from the town, parts of which are discernible to this day. English name — Eynon's Fort.Llanerfyl. — The church is dedicated to Erfyl, in memory of whom a large stone is erected in the churchyard.Origin of Place-names in Wales & Monmouthshire Page 85