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Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Wales => Topic started by: Top-of-the-hill on Sunday 08 August 21 18:11 BST (UK)

Title: Welsh placenames
Post by: Top-of-the-hill on Sunday 08 August 21 18:11 BST (UK)

   The grandchildren have just been to North Wales, and we were talking about placenames. I know there are many beginning with Llan, which on-line translators have as Church. Is this correct? There are also many Llanfihangels, and I have a vague memory that the second element of this is Michael. Am I right?

Title: Re: Welsh placenames
Post by: Gadget on Sunday 08 August 21 18:20 BST (UK)

Llan can be more than Church. *It refers to the area around the Church - the village. Llanfihangel means the church of St Michael

* add -  to clarify, used on it's own it means the village cf pentre

Title: Re: Welsh placenames
Post by: Top-of-the-hill on Sunday 08 August 21 19:49 BST (UK)

  Thanks Gadget! Glad I remembered Michael correctly.

Title: Re: Welsh placenames
Post by: Ian999 on Monday 09 August 21 14:56 BST (UK)

To add to Gadget's translation, it makes a bit more sense when you think of it as "Church of St Michael the Archangel", and yes there are dozens of them.

Title: Re: Welsh placenames
Post by: Gadget on Monday 09 August 21 15:13 BST (UK)

Mihangel* is the usual translation of Michael in Welsh and angel is, I think, the same in both languages. Although there are variations  ;D

* the M is soft mutated to  F after Llan

This takes me back to 1st year grammar school - declining the mutations  ;D

Add - try saying LlanFihangel and LlanMihangel and see what sounds best  :)

Title: Re: Welsh placenames
Post by: Llwyd on Wednesday 11 August 21 19:41 BST (UK)

The dreaded mutations - treigladau - the bane of a Welsh learners life.
 :)