Celtic Facts and Fun from Grandpa Bob's File Cabinet

How do you say Merry Christmas in...?
Welsh      - Nadolig Llawen
Irish         - Nollaig Shona Dhuit
Scottish - Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Ur
Breton    - Nedeleg Laouen na bloavezh mat
Cornish   - Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth
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Welsh Surnames:

Surnames in Wales are relatively few, compared to other countries, although because of immigration into Wales and a movement in recent years from England, there is a much greater variety of surnames in Wales today than would have been found 200 years ago. As an avid genealogist, linguistics and the origins of names has held a special fascination. I have endeavored to put some of my experiences and findings into this treatis on Welsh Surnames. If you find errors, please E-Mail

Now for the answer to the burning question "Where in the heck did the name Jones come from?" I give you the following. Start with the Biblical name John. Change it into its Celtic spelling Iohannes which was pronounced almost like the French Jean (Zhahn). Change it back to its non-Celtic spelling John, but keep the Celtic pronunciation. Using the patronymic method change John to Johnes. Drop the silent "h", and we get "Jones"(pronounced Zhones). Mutate the pronunciation from the soft Celtic "J" to the hard English "J". Add a Welsh accent to the letter "o" and there you are! Please note that in some cases, the name John was spelled in Welsh as Sion.

Now let's get to the real issue, classifying those Welsh names. Today, there are Polish refugees from World War II who settled in Wales. They are now Welsh, but are these Welsh surnames? This is the dilemna facing anyone attempting to classify surnames. I have classified using that highly tested and scientific hypothesis "If it wasn't in Wales before 1800, it ain't Welsh!".

I have placed Welsh surnames into two broad classes according the time origin of the name. If the name existed in Wales prior to 1066, then it is labeled "C" for Celtic/Roman; if after 1066, then "N" for Saxon/Norman. Please note that this does not imply that the surname existed in Celtic times. Surnames did not exist in Wales prior to the Norman conquest. The actual adoption of surnames was by English edict in the late 16th century.

Four charts break down the surnames into the four major groupings,

Patronymns, Nicknames, Locality Names, and Occupational Names.

Chart I - Patronymns
In the patronymnic chart, besides those who follow the patronymic patterns of ab, ap, kin, kins, s, I have also included those names derived without change (the Celtic first name Llywelyn also became a surname and those names that simply mutated such as the Celtic first name Madog into the surnames Mattuck, Mattock, Maddux, etc.
 
 

Given Name	Source	Surnames	Notes
Adam	N	Adams	Heb Adama "Earth"
Aubrey	N	Aubrey, Awbrey	Norman form of German Alberic "supernatural power"
Daniel	N	Daniels	Heb "A Judge is God"
David	C	David, Davids, Davis, Davies	Heb "Beloved"
Edward	N	Edwards	Old English Eadweard "guard of riches"
Einion,Eynon, Eigion	C	Beynon, Baynon, Benyon, Pinnion, Pinyon	Old Welsh "Anvil"
Francis	N	Francis	Norman "Frenchman"
Fulk	C	Fulk, Foulk	Old English "Tribe"
George	N	George	Gr Georgios "Farmer"
Griffi,Gruffydd	C	Griffin, Griffith, Griffiths, Gryffyn	Old Welsh "Prince"
Gronw	C	Gronau, Gronow	Old Welsh
Guy	N	Guy	Germanic Witu "Wood"
Henry	N	Barry, Harry, Harris, Henry, Parry, Penry	Germanic Haimric "Home Ruler"
Herbert	N	Herbert	Germanic Heriberht "Famous Army"
Hugh , Huw	N	Hew, Hugh, Hughes, Hughs, Pugh	Germanic Hug "Heart or Spirit"
Humphrey	N	Humphrey, Humphries, Pumphrey	Germanic Hunfrid "Warrior for Peace"
Hywel	C	Howel, Howels, Howell, Howells, Powell, Hywel	Old Welsh "Conspicious"
Iago	C	Iago	?
Ieuan	C	Bevan, Bevans, Bevins, Bevis?, Evan, Evans	Old Welsh
Ifor	C	Ivor	Old Welsh
Isaac	N	Isaacs	Heb "Laugh"
Ithel	C	Ithell, Bethell, Bithell, Bethel	Old Welsh
James	N	James	Eng form of Heb Jacob "Supplanter"
Jeffrey	N	Jeffreys, Jeffries (Sieffre)	Frankish Geoffrey "Stranger"
John	C	Jenkins (Siencyn), John (Sion), Johnes, Johns, Jones	Heb Johanan "God is Gracious"
Llwelyn	C	Lewelin, Lewis, Llewelyn, Llwelyn, Llywelyn	Celtic Lugobelinus from LLeu "God"
Llywarch	C	Lark	Celtic "God of Horses"
Madog	C	Madoc, Madock, Maddock, Mattock, Mattuck, Maddick, Maddicks,Maddox, Maddux, Maddox, Maddux	Name of Welsh Prince
Madyn	C	Madden	Old Welsh
Mareddudd,Merridew	C	Meredith, Meridith	Old Welsh - Mare is obscure, DDud "Lord" Could come from Mary
Mathias	N	Mathias	Heb "Gift of Jehovah"
Matthew	N	Matthews	Greek "Gift of God"
Morican	C	Morgan, Morgans, Morris	Celtic Moricantos "Circle of the Sea"
Nicholas	N	Nicholas	Greek Nikolaos "People of Victory"
Owein	C	Bowen, Bowens, Owain, Owen, Owens	Celtic "Born of Easos" Easos was a Celtic God
Peter	N	Peter, Peters	Greek "Rock" from Aramaic Cephas
Philip	N	Philips, Phillips	Greek "Lover of Horses"
Reynold	N	Reynolds	Germanic Ragionwald "Advising Ruler"
Rhydderch	C	Prothero, Protheroe, Prytherch, Prytherat, Prythuch	Saxon Roderic "fame & power"
Rhys	C	Breese, Breeze, Brice, Preese, Price, Rees, Reese, Rice	Old Welsh
Richard	N	Pritchard, Prychard, Richard, Richards	Germanic Richard "brave or strong"
Robert	N	Roberts, Hopkin, Hopkins
Roger	N	Rogers, Proger
Roland	N	Rolands	Germanic Hrodland "Famous Land"
Rosser	C	Prosser	Old Welsh
Thomas	N	Thomas. Thomases	Greek Didymus "Twin"
Tuder	C	Tewder, Tudor	Celtic Tautorix "Tribal King"
Walter, Wat	N	Walter, Walters, Watkins	Germanic Waldhari "Ruling Warrior" Old English Wealdhere, Wat is diminitive form of Walter
William	N	Gillam, Gilliam, Gillum, Gwillim, Wilkin, Wilkins, William, Williams	Germanic Wilhelm "Desire Protection"

Chart 2 - Nicknames
 
 

Nickname	Source	Surname	Notes
Bach	C	Bach	"Tiny" Old Welsh
Bychan	C	Vaughan, Vaughan	"Small or Junior"
Coch	C	Cooke, Goch	"Red"
Gam	C	Gams, Games	"Lame"
Goodrich	N	Goodrich	Saxon Godrich "Powerful Diety"
Gwyn	C	Gwyn, Gwynne, Wynne	"White or Fair"
Hir	C	Hire, Hires, Hyre	"Tall"
Hob	N	Hopkin, Hopkins	byname of Robert means "Child of Robert"
Llwyd	C	Bloyd, Lloyd, Llwyd	"Brown or Gray"
Pen	C	Pen---	Names beginning with Pen (other than Penry which is a patronymic for Henry) derive from this nickname meaning "Chief or Point"
Sauvage	N	Sauvage, Savage	"Wild"

Chart 3- Locality Names.

These are mostly Norman names that were in the border region near Hay on Wye in the 1400's.
 
 

Surname	Notes
Baskerville	Norman "Basker's House" came from Dieppe
Bohun	Norman "Bo's Place"
Breaos	Norman "Brea's Abode"
Burghill	Saxon "Town on the Hill"
Burton	Saxon "of Bur Town"
Hereford	Saxon "of Here Ford"
Newmarch	Norman "New Frontier"
Payton, Peyton	Saxon - "of Pey's Town" (Peyton Place!)
Salisbury	Norman - "Salis town"
Turberville	Norman - "Turber's House"

Chart 4 - Occupational Names

 

Sources:

A Dictionary of English & Welsh Surnames, Charles Wareing Bardsley, Oxford U Press, 1896

A Simple Guide to Construction of 13th Century Welsh Names by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn, (Heather Rose Jones) Berkeley, 1996

A Simple Guide to Construction of 16th Century Welsh Names (In English Contexts) by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn, (Heather Rose Jones) Berkeley, 1996

Dictionary of First Names, Hanks & Hodges, Oxford U Press, 1990

History of Brecknockshire, Theolophis Jones, 179

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About Wales

Size of Wales: 8,000 sq miles (about the size of New Jersey)

Population: 3 million

Capital: Cardiff

Industries: Agriculture, Mining, Tourism

Weather: Avg Jan 40 deg f., Jul 60 deg f.

Average Rainfall: 50-80"

Recognized Animal Breeds: Cob Horse, Welsh Corgi Dogs, Welsh Terrier Dog

For further factual information check out Cymru Prosper Wales Database

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Places in North America of Probable Welsh Origin.

I was contacted in 1998 by a company who was contemplating making a TV show about towns in the United States with links to Wales. I did some research for him and came up with the following list. I am sure I missed many. If your town has a Welsh name and is not on the list, please email and I will add it.

Alaska - Abernant, Gwydyr Bay, Wales

California - Cambria, Sylmar?

Florida - Pembroke, Lanark Village, Lloyd

Illinois - Swansea, Cambria, Lanark

Maine - Bangor

Maryland - Cardiff

Massachusetts - Swansea

Montana - Lloyd

New Hampshire: Cardigan

New Jersey: Cardiff

New York - Cambria Center

Ohio: Gomer, Venedocia, Welsh Hills, Radnor

Pennsylvania - Gladwyn, Bryn Mawr,

South Carolina - Swansea

S. Dakota - Llewellyn Johns

Virginia - Gwynn

Wisconsin: Village of Wales

Minnesota - Lake Crystal

Ohio - Oak Hill, Jackson, Granville, Gomer, Radnor, Venedocia

Pennsylvania - Harrisburg, Newcastle, Wilkes-Barre

 

 

These cities were not settled primarily by the Welsh but still have large Welsh populations

 

Georgia - Marietta

Iowa - Red Oak

Kentucky - Lexington, Louisville

New York - Utica, Webster, New York City

Ohio - Columbus, Mansfield, Marion, Newark, Niles, Warren, Xenia, Youngstown

Pennyslvania - Scranton, Lancaster, Nanticoke, Philadelphia, Plymouth, Pittsburg,

and many small towns around Wilkes-Barre, Scranton and Harrisburg

Utah - Salt Lake City. The State of Utah is 20% Welsh descent

Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Randolph, Ripon, Waukesha,

 

In addition, there are many towns named after Welsh settlers such as Harrisburg and Johnstown. There are over fifty towns starting with Jones such as Jonesburg.

My Hen Wlad  (Welsh National Anthem) Evan James

1. Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn anwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol rhyfelwyr, gwlad garwyr tra mad,
Tros ryddid collasant eu gwaed.

Cytgan: (Chorus)
Gwlad, gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad,
Tra mor yn fur
I'r bur hoff bau,
O bydded i'r heniaith barhau.

2. Hen Gymru fynyddig, paradwys y bardd,
Pob dyffryn, pob clogwyn, i'm golwg sydd hardd;
Trwy deimlad gwladgarol, mor swynol yw si
Ei nentydd, afonydd, i mi.
Cytgan:

3. Os treisiodd y gelyn fy ngwlad dan ei droed,
Mae hen iaith y Cymry mor fyw ag erioed,
Ni luddiwyd yr awen gan erchyll law brad,
Na thelyn berseiniol fy ngwlad.
Cytgan:

It is believed that a weaver from Mid Glamorgan, Evan James, wrote the words one morning in January 1856 to a tune composed by his son James James. The date of the song's adoption as the national anthem is subject to debate,, but it is known that the tune was given prominence in 1874, and since that date has been considered the song which expresses Welsh nationalism.
 
 
 

A Very Little Humor

Dafydd(David): How many members of WSCO does it take to change a lightbulb?

Grandpa Bob: I don't know Dafydd, how many?

Dafydd: Five. One to organize the event, one to arrange for the music, one to bake teacakes, one to make sure the event gets in the Dragon Tales, and one to change the bulb!

 Dafydd: Cardi, how come your putting up the wallpaper with thumbtacks?

Cardi Evans: You don't think I'm going to live here all my life do you?

Dafydd: I think we just crossed the border into Wales

Grandpa Bob: How do you know?

Dafydd: The learner's tag on the bumper of that car had two "L's!"

Dafydd: I'm proud to be from one of the biggest countries in Europe!

Grandpa Bob: Come on Dafydd, you're from Wales, its no bigger than New Jersey.

Dafydd: You can't measure Wales side-to-side. You have to measure it up and down and side-to-side.

Grandpa Bob: Really? Then how big is Wales

Dafydd: If you flatten it out, maybe not as big as Spain, but certainly bigger than England!

Dafydd: That fellow over in the corner of the pub - I wonder where he is from?

Grandpa Bob: I'll go ask him. "Hello stranger, where are you from?"

Stranger:  I'm not from here.

Grandpa Bob:  First time here then, eh?

Stranger: Never have I been here before.

Grandpa Bob: Where do you go to church?

Stranger: Not to the one across the street from the house, that's for sure.

Grandpa Bob: Do you like Welsh choirs?

Stranger: I don't like Opera.

Grandpa Bob: Do you drink Welsh beer?

Stranger: I'm not drinking whisky.

Grandpa's Bob:  Are you a member of the visiting Rugby Team?

Stranger:  Yes, I'm not.

Dafydd: Did you find out where he is from?

Grandpa Bob: He's OK, he's a Welshman.

For those who are wondering what the above story meant, the Welsh are famous for never giving a direct answer to a question.  Other clues:  double negatives, adjectives after nouns, and his height.

Preacher to drunk on bus: "You, sir are on the road to damnation!"

Drunk: "I thought this was the bus to Swansea!"

Overheard in Hotel.

"I'm Rhonda Roth from Rhondda."

"Glad to meet you. I'm Dafydd Davies-Davis from Dulais.

A busload of Cardiganshire tourists wrecked in North Wales and fifty were killed.  They went to heaven and were met by St. Peter, who immediately ran to God to ask what to do with them.  God replied "Let the 10 most virtuous in".  St Peter ran back to the gates and back to God again, out of breath, exclaiming "They are gone!".  God said "You lost 50 Cardi Welshmen?". St. Peter replied, "No, you don't understand, the Pearly Gates, they're gone!"

A small cargo plane flying from London to Frankfurt was having difficulty and the four crewman (Irish, English, Scottish and Welsh) were going to have to bail out.  Unfortunately, there were only three parachutes.  After much discussion, the Welshman said "The Englishman can have my chute."  He took it and jumped.  The Irishman and Scotsman gazed on the Welshman in great admiration and praise for his brave and unselfish deed.  The Welshman replied "It really was nothing, I gave him my knapsack."

Farmer Jones had three sons, John and Evan and William. John and Evan were strapping young men.  Unfortunately, the youngest William was a little slow and was knowing as Bill Twp.  Farmer Jones always suspected his wife of infidelity and would often ask, "Maggie are you sure that William is a Jones?" She always replied "Yes, dear."  On her death bed, he asked again, telling her that the truth was all that mattered and he had to know.  She replied.  "Yes, dear, William is a Jones.  However, the other two are Griffiths."

And I'm Grandpa Bob, and I'm out of here for now. Watch for new items from time to time.

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