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

that the two rivers in their flowing course resemble two swords; hence the name. English name — The oldone, with I inserted between m and f; hence Millford. Haven is an Anglicized form of hafn, a flat, still place;hence a refuge for ships.Moleston. — The place was once remarkable for its numbers of moles, on account of which it was calledMoleston, moles' town. Compare Molton (Devon) and Molesworth (Hants), &c.Manorbier. — Very many of the inhabitants think the name was derived from an expression made by theeye-witnesses of a conflict that took place between a man and a bear. When the combatants met vis-a-vis,the people shouted " Man or bear," hence Manorbier. We dismiss the derivation as an outcome of vainconjecture. Some derive Pyrr from Barri, a Norman lord. Others think it is the plural of por, a lord. One writerderives it from beyr, the Norse for farmstead. Evidently the English name is a modification of the WelshMaenor Pyrr. Maenor is the Welsh for manor, and Giraldus Cambrensis (who was born here about the year1146) thought it was called after Pyrrus, who took up his abode here; hence Maenor Pyrr, Mansio Pyrr, or theresidence of Pyr. Had we not better call it Manor Pyr ?Maenclochog. — Maen, a stone; clochog, bell-like, ringing. It appears the place derived its name from alarge stone that lay on the roadside near the church, which, on being struck, gave a bell-like sound. Englishname — Ringstone.Mynwere. — This name seems like a corruption of Mwyn aurt gold mine, which was supposed to have beenhere in olden times; 'but we rather think it is derived from a weir on the Eastern Cleddy, on the banks ofwhich river the parish is situated, which was noted for the abundance of fish caught there during the season.English name — Weirton.Marloes. — A mutation of Marlais; mar, an extensive tract of land; lais, a corruption of dais, a trench orrivulet. English name — Trencham.Mazebridge. — The prefix may be the Anglo-Saxon-maze, signifying a place or passage full of windings andturnings, which is very often spanned by a bridge.Marthrey or Marthri. – , This is a corruption of fnerthyr, martyr. The place suffered very heavily from theDanish onslaughts, and the church is dedicated to the holy martyrs. English name — Martyrham.Middlemill. — A translation of Felinganol. A Baptist Chapel was built here in 1756, and called Felinganol,from its situation near a mill of that name, which intervened between two other mills.Muzzlewick. — From Moussel, a Norse settler; and wick, a creek or bay.Mynachlog Ddu. — Black monastery; i.e., a monastery belonging to the Black Friars. English name—Blackfriars Place.Moylgrove. — A compound of moel, a bare pointed hill, and grove. English name — Grovehill.Neyland. — The old Norman name was Nayland - signifying nigh land, the land near the sea. We findNayland in Suffolk and Nyland in Somerset. The inhabitants, aspiring hard to compete with their neighboursin Milford, abandoned the old name, and called the place New Milford.Narberth. — In the Mabinogion it is called Yr Arber'h, which signifies a place situated on a sloping hill,abounding with peithi, bushes. The name answers to the physical aspect of the town. The preposition yn, in,was generally used before Arberth; hence the consonant n adhered to the name, and thence we have-Narberth. English name — Bushton.Nevern. — The parish derives its name from the rivulet Nevern, which flows through it. Lewis, in the “NewTopographical Dictionary," thinks the word is. derived from nifer, a number, on account of the numerousstreamlets that run through the parish into the sea. Tegid spelt it Nanhyfer; if so, the roots are nant, a brook;and hyf, bold, daring. English name — Boldbrook.Nash. — A modification of the Norse ness, a cape* or promontory. Nash, Point, Naze, and Nazeby, comefrom the same root. Nash village is situated near Milford Bay.Origin of Place-names in Wales & Monmouthshire Page 92