THE DERIVATION AND MEANING OF PLACE-NAMES<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n LLANILLTUD FAWR \/ LLANTWIT MAJOR<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The name Llanilltud <\/strong>is made up of two elements – \u2018llan\u2019 <\/strong>and \u2018Illtud\u2019 (\u2018Illtyd\u2019)<\/strong>. The first element is an old Celtic word, which I will discuss in detail at a later date. Suffice to say at this stage that the meaning is \u2018church\u2019<\/strong>. The second element is the name of the saint to whom the church is dedicated. Illtud <\/strong>was a 5th\/6th Century saint who established his monastery in this location. Holy men came to this early centre of learning from all over Britain and Europe to study and it is said that the Patron Saint of Wales, Dewi Sant himself studied there. So Llanilltud <\/strong>means \u2018the church of Illtud\u2019. <\/strong>The second word \u2018Fawr\u2019 <\/strong>is the mutated form of the adjective \u2018mawr\u2019 <\/strong>which conveys \u2018large, big, majo<\/strong>r\u2019 depending on the context. This adjective is used as part of the place-name to reflect its importance as a major centre of learning – or early university!<\/p>\n In English the Welsh name \u2018Llanilltud\u2019 <\/strong>has mutated to \u2018Llantwit\u2019<\/strong>. But how in the world could that happen? Down the centuries, in documents and manuscripts, the name of the saint has been written as Iltut, Iltuit, Yltwyt <\/em>and so on. As far back as 1100 the name of the monastery appears as Llanitut<\/em>, Llanntwyt, Llanulltut <\/em>and many other versions, depending on the spelling abilities of the scribes! In 1431 the first two letters of the saint’s name seem to have been dropped and versions such as Lantwyt, Lantwytt, and Lantwit <\/em>appear. So this explains the aberration (in my mind, at least!) \u2018Llantwit\u2019<\/strong>. The second word \u2018major\u2019 <\/strong>is explained above.<\/p>\n Y RHWS \/ RHOOSE <\/strong><\/p>\n This name is very easily explained. \u2018Rhws\u2019 <\/strong>is derived from the Welsh noun \u2018rhos\u2019 <\/strong>meaning \u2018moorland\u2019 <\/strong>or \u2018heathland\u2019<\/strong>. Because it is a common noun, it is preceded by the definite article \u2018y\u2019 <\/strong>(the) in Welsh.<\/p>\n The English name \u2018Rhoose\u2019 <\/strong>is merely the Anglicized spelling of the Welsh name.<\/p>\n SAIN TATHAN \/ ST ATHAN <\/strong><\/p>\n The name refers to the church of Saint Tathan <\/strong>– which is mistakenly written as \u2018St Athan\u2019 <\/strong>in English. In Welsh place-names, the word \u2018saint\u2019 is conveyed in various ways – \u2018Sant, San, Sain\u2019. In the case of Sain Tathan <\/strong>we see that \u2018Sain\u2019 is used.<\/p>\n PEN-MARC \/ PENMARK <\/strong><\/p>\n The name Pen-Marc obviously consists of two elements. \u2018Pen\u2019 <\/strong>means \u2018head, top, summit, end\u2019 <\/strong>in Welsh – depending on the context. In this case it refers to the headland – the bluff overlooking the river Weycock – which is the location of the village. The second element \u2018marc\u2019 <\/strong>probably derives from the word \u2018march\u2019<\/strong>, meaning \u2018stallion\u2019 <\/strong>– though the final \u2018h\u2019 has been lost. It is not certain to what the stallion\u2019s head refers – possibly to the shape of the headland – or to the location of various rituals or ceremonies involving a stallion\u2019s head – or to something else long forgotten.<\/p>\n The English spelling uses a \u2018k\u2019 to convey the sound<\/p>\n of the final consonant. There is no \u2018k\u2019 <\/strong>in the Welsh alphabet – it is not required – because, unlike in English – the consonant \u2018c\u2019 <\/strong>is always hard. In English of course, it can be hard – as in \u2018c<\/strong>ar\u2019 or soft – as in \u2018c<\/strong>eiling\u2019. The rule seems to be – to make sure, use \u2018k\u2019 or even, in places, \u2018ck\u2019!<\/p>\n Next month: Llwyneliddon \/ St Lythan\u2019s, Twynyrodyn, Llancarfan, Tresimwn \/ Bonvilston, Aberddawan \/ Aberthaw, Trebefered \/ Boverton.<\/p>\n Ann M. Jones<\/p>\n <\/p>\n THE DERIVATION AND MEANING OF PLACE-NAMES LLANILLTUD FAWR \/ LLANTWIT MAJOR The name Llanilltud is made up of two elements – \u2018llan\u2019 and \u2018Illtud\u2019 (\u2018Illtyd\u2019). The first element is an old Celtic word, which I will discuss in detail at a later date. Suffice to say at this stage that the meaning is \u2018church\u2019. The second element is the name […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[334,228],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6cWjO-3hW","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12433,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=12433","url_meta":{"origin":12644,"position":0},"title":"Meaning Of Place-Names Part 5","author":"Alan Williams","date":"2nd November 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"THE DERIVATION AND MEANING OF PLACE-NAMES MERTHYR DYFAN \u00a0- The Welsh word \u2018merthyr\u2019 is seen in a number of place-names in Wales - and this again is often mistakenly translated. Many people are familiar with the word \u2018merthyr\u2019 which derives from the Latin word \u2018martyr\/martyris\u2019 - meaning \u2018martyr\u2019 - a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Interest Articles"","block_context":{"text":"General Interest Articles","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=334"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":12750,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=12750","url_meta":{"origin":12644,"position":1},"title":"Place-Names Derivation – Llwyneliddon \/ St Lythans","author":"Alan Williams","date":"5th January 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"THE DERIVATION AND MEANING OF PLACE-NAMES LLWYNELIDDON \/ ST LYTHANS The Welsh name is made up of two elements - \u2018llwyn\u2019 and \u2018Eliddon\u2019. \u2018Llwyn\u2019 is the Welsh word for \u2018grove\u2019 or \u2018copse\u2019 and the second element \u2018Eliddon\u2019\u2019 is the name of the saint to whom an earlier church was dedicated.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Readers Articles of Interest"","block_context":{"text":"Readers Articles of Interest","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=228"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":14057,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=14057","url_meta":{"origin":12644,"position":2},"title":"Saint David – the Patron Saint of Wales","author":"Alan Williams","date":"14th March 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Dewi Sant - Nawddsant Cymru Saint David - the Patron Saint of Wales \u00a0 Dewi was the Bishop of Mynyw in South West Wales - what today is called St David\u2019s - in the 6th Century. The date of his birth is not clear but it is generally accepted that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Readers Articles of Interest"","block_context":{"text":"Readers Articles of Interest","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=228"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":12857,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=12857","url_meta":{"origin":12644,"position":3},"title":"Place-Names Derivation – LLAN","author":"Alan Williams","date":"1st February 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"THE DERIVATION AND MEANING OF PLACE-NAMES We\u2019ll now look at some common elements in Welsh Place-names. LLAN The most common element by far in Welsh place-names is the word \u2018llan\u2019. If you were to look at a book of place-names, you would see that there are over 400 places in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Interest Articles"","block_context":{"text":"General Interest Articles","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=334"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":11844,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=11844","url_meta":{"origin":12644,"position":4},"title":"The Meaning And Derivation Of Place-Names","author":"Alan Williams","date":"7th July 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"THE MEANING AND DERIVATION OF PLACE-NAMES Many people are fascinated by the meaning and derivation of place-names - so we\u2019ll look at the names that are local to us in this area - before moving on to look at some further afield. The obvious place to start is at our\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Interest Articles"","block_context":{"text":"General Interest Articles","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=334"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":14454,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=14454","url_meta":{"origin":12644,"position":5},"title":"Welsh Traditions 4 Gwau Hosanau – Knitting Stockings","author":"Alan Williams","date":"8th July 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"WELSH TRADITIONS 4 GWAU HOSANAU - KNITTING STOCKINGS In rural Wales, one of the main cottage industries which flourished during the 18th Century was that of knitting stockings - not only for the family - but for selling in the local markets - and further afield. The towns of Bala,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Interest Articles"","block_context":{"text":"General Interest Articles","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=334"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12644"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12644"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12644\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12647,"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12644\/revisions\/12647"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n
\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"