AFANmWelsh, Medieval Welsh The name of a river in South Wales, usually Anglicized as AVON or Avan, presumably derived from Celtic *abon- "river" (making it a cognate of AFON)... [more]
ARIANWENfMedieval Welsh, Welsh Derived from Welsh arian "silver" and gwen "white; fair; blessed". According to legend, Arianwen verch Brychan was the daughter of BRYCHAN Brycheiniog and later went on to become a saint herself.
BRANNOCKmMedieval Welsh (Anglicized, ?), Medieval English (?) The name of the titular saint of the village of Braunton in Devon, England. Saint Brannock (or Brannoc) is said to have originated from South Wales and established a monastery at Braunton in the 6th century... [more]
BRIAMAILmMedieval Welsh, Brythonic Old Welsh form of the Brythonic name *Brigomaglos, which was composed of the Proto-Celtic elements *brigos, *brigā meaning "might, power" and *maglos "chief, noble".
CADWALmMedieval Welsh, Breton (Rare) From Old Welsh cad "battle" and gwal "leader". This occurs in Shakespeare's play 'Cymbeline' (1609) as the name of Arviragus while in hiding in Wales.... [more]
CYNFRANmMedieval Welsh Derived from Welsh cyn "chief" and bran "crow, raven". This was the name of an obscure 5th-century Welsh saint. He was one of the sons of Saint Brychan.
DILLENAfMedieval Welsh Of uncertain origin and meaning. Current theories include a Latinization of DULON and a derivation from the " Medieval Welsh word dillyn meaning, as an adjective, "beautiful, fine, neat, chaste", and as a noun, "a thing of beauty or elegance, ornament, precious thing, dear one, darling"".
DUMNAGUALmMedieval Welsh, Brythonic Old Welsh cognate of Gaelic DOMHNALL, derived from a Celtic name composed of the elements *dubnos meaning "world" and *walos "prince, chief".
DYDDGUfMedieval Welsh Derived from the Welsh elements dydd "day" and cu "beloved, dear". This name was used by the 14th-century lyric poet Dafydd ap Gwilym for the subject of nine of his love poems, an unattainable, aristocratic, dark-haired woman whose character contrasts that of his other love, the blonde MORFUDD.
EILIANm & fMedieval Welsh, Welsh Welsh form of AELIAN. A noted bearer is St. Eilian, a Catholic saint who founded a church in North Wales around the year 450. The Parish of Llanelian is named after him... [more]
GENERYSfMedieval Welsh Old Welsh name of uncertain meaning, perhaps from Middle Welsh gen "family" or geneth "girl" and ner "chief, hero". It was borne by one of the lovers of the 12th-century Welsh poet Hywel ab Owain.
GWEIRCAfMedieval Welsh Of uncertain origin and meaning; some sources assume that the name might actually have been Gwerica.... [more]
GWEIRFULfMedieval Welsh Old Welsh name of uncertain meaning, possibly derived from the Welsh elements gwair "turn, bend, circle" (older form gweir) and mul "modest, shy".
GWENWYNWYNmMedieval Welsh Famous bearer is Gwenwynwyn ab Owain Cyfeiliog, the last major ruler of mid Wales before the completion of the Norman English invasion.
HUNYDDfMedieval Welsh Old Welsh name of uncertain derivation, possibly from Welsh hun "sleep" or huan "sun". It was the name of a sweetheart of the 12th-century poet and soldier Hywel ap Owain.
IWERYDDfMedieval Welsh, Welsh Mythology Derived from Welsh Y Werydd meaning "the ocean". In Welsh mythology she was a wife of the sea-god LLYR and the mother of BRÂN the Blessed.
LLEISIONmMedieval Welsh Of debated origin and meaning. Theories include a derivation from Welsh llais "voice", a derivation from Welsh lleisiol "vocal" and a Welsh contraction of kyrie eleision, an Ecclesiastical Latin phrase from Ancient Greek Κύριε, ἐλέησον, "Lord, have mercy".
LLYWARCHmMedieval Welsh, Welsh Possibly a Welsh form of the hypothetic old Celtic name *Lugumarcos meaning "horse of Lugus", derived from the name of the Celtic god LUGUS combined with Welsh march "horse", but perhaps the first element is Welsh llyw "leader"... [more]
MECHYLLmMedieval Welsh Derived from Old Welsh mach "surety" and the diminutive suffix -yll. Mechyll is the saint of Llanfechell in Anglesey who is commemorated on November 15 according to the Welsh Calendars.
MEILYRmWelsh, Medieval Welsh Of uncertain origin and meaning. Current theories include a derivation from Welsh Mai "May (the month)" and LLYR and a Welsh form of MAGLOIRE.
MORFUDDfWelsh, Medieval Welsh From Welsh mawr "great" and budd "wealth". In Welsh legend Morfudd was the twin sister of Sir OWAIN and the daughter of King Urien by MODRON... [more]
RHAINmMedieval Welsh, Welsh From Welsh rhain meaning "stiff" or "stretched out", sometimes interpreted as "spear". This was borne by a son of the legendary 5th-century king Brychan Brycheiniog, and by a 9th-century king of Dyfed.
RHIAINFELLTfMedieval Welsh Derived from Welsh rhiain "maiden" (originally "queen" from Celtic *r-gan-) and mellt "lightning". Rhiainfellt or Rhieinfellt was the name of a great-granddaughter of Urien Rheged who became the wife of the 7th-century Anglo-Saxon king Oswy of Northumbria.
TANGWYSTLfMedieval Welsh Means "pledge of peace" from Welsh tanc "peace, tranquility" and gwystl "hostage, pledge". This belonged to one of the legendary daughters of Saint Brychan.
TEGWAREDmMedieval Welsh Presumably it is a combination of teg "fair" and gwared "deliverance." The eldest natural son of Llywelyn the Great was named Tegwared, born c. 1210.
WONNOWmHistory (?), Medieval Welsh (?) Variant or corruption of WINWALOE, in the case of St Wonnow's Church, the parish church of Wonastow in South East Wales, which is dedicated to Saint Wonnow or Winwaloe, a 6th-century saint in Brittany.