Some place-names in south Wales

Introduction

Place-name etymology is quite intricate. One needs to refer to the published works of past 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.

My two place-name publications to date are Cynon Valley Place-names and Notes on some place-names in and around the Bont. [other publications include Historical and Hysterical Tales of Pontardulais Public Houses.]

Visitors to this site are welcome to contact me at dericj@googlemail.com if they wish to contribute, discuss etymolgies or suggest other place-names of interest.

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.

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), DGL (D. Geraint Lewis).

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 (unpublished thesis on the place-names of the cwmwd of Meisgyn), NCPNW (Non-Celtic Place-names of Wales), NLW (National Library of Wales, ISYS), PNDH (The Place-names of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).