The Roots of Welsh Place Names A to C
A

aber = mouth of river or stream , confluence, estuary

ael = brow of hill

afon = river

arth = bear

aur = gold

B

bach = little, small

bae = bay

bala = outflow of river from lake

ban = peak, horn, corner

banc = bank, mound, hill

bangor = monastery, upper row of a wattle fence

bardd = bard, poet

bedw = birch

bedd = grave, tomb, sepulchre

bery = bird of prey, kite

betws = oratory, chapel, birch grove

brān = crow, rook, raven

bre = hill, highland

brenin = King

brethyn = cloth

bro = land, region, vale

C

cad = battle, army, host

cadair = chair, seat, cradle

cadlys = camp, enclosure

cae = field,

caeadle = enclosure

caer = walled city, castle walls

caerfa = fortress

cafell = cell, sanctuary, oracle

canolfan = centre

capel = chapel

carn = cairn

carreg = stone

scroll back to top of this page »» ......^

C- continued

castell = castle

cefn = back, garden bed

cei = quay

clawdd = hedge, dyke, embankment

clos = yard

clun = meadow, moorland, brush

clwyd = hurdle, gate, roost

coch = red

coed = wood, timber

coelbren = lot

coetref = woodland, homestead

coleg = college

collen = hazel

cored = weir, dam

cors = bog, swamp

crai = new, fresh

craidd = middle, center

craig = rock

crair = relic

crau = stockade, sty

crib = crest, ridge, comb

croes = cross

croesfforth = crossroad

crog = cross, rood, hanging

crug = hillock, tumulus

crwys = cross, crucifix

cudd = hidden, concealed

culfor = strait

cwar = quarry

cwm = valley

cwr = edge, border

cwrt = court

cwrw = beer, ale

cylch = round, circular, hoop

cymer = confluence

Cymru = Wales

 

D to G H to P R toY Towns/Villages in Welsh and English Back to home Page