Some place-names in south Wales

Place-name etymology is a very difficult field of study. One needs to refer to the published works of experts in this discipline, for their knowledge and expertise in unravelling the secrets of place-names. Online access to archive material at the National Library of Wales and at The Melville Richards Archives at Bangor, as well as various other sources are valuable aids to finding early forms of place-names. Consultation and discussion with other toponymists is often of great help.

Please click on the above BLUE links for place-names.

The  place-name elements section contains the most popular and interesting place-name elements found in the place-names of south Wales. To find an element, click on the appropriate letter of the  alphabet above, and scroll down the page. The latest entries are: llyfn, morlan, saintwell, sanctuary, Cynfoi, celfi and cesair.

Abbreviations: 

Writers:

GOP (Gwynedd O Pierce), MR (Melville Richards), RJT (R. J. Thomas), HWO (Hywel Wyn Owen), RM (Richard Morgan), BLJ (Bedwyr Lewis Jones), IW (Ifor Williams), BR (Brinley F. Roberts)  DJ (Deric John) Griffiths (John & Gwilym Griffiths).  

Publications and websites: 

ADG (Ar Draws Gwlad), AMR (Archif Melville Richards Archive), CVPN (Cynon Valley Place-names), DPW (Dictionary of the Place-names of Wales), EANC (Enwau Afonydd a Nentydd Cymru), ELl (Enwau Lleoedd), ELlSG (Enwau Lleoedd Sir Gaernarfon), ETG (Enwau Tir a Gwlad), GPC (Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru), Meisg. (unpublished thesis on the place-names of the cwmwd of Meisgyn), NLW (National Library of Wales, ISYS), PNDH (The Place-names of Devynock Hundred), PNDPH (The Place-names of Dinas Powys Hundred), PNG (Place-Names in Glamorgan), PNP (The Place-Names of Pembrokeshire), SAPN (Some Aberdare Place-names, in Old Aberdare Vol. 7),YEE (Yn Ei Elfen).

Thanks for visiting,

Deric Meidrum John.