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■ 39
THE PERSONAL NAME-SYSTEM IN OLD WELSH. By J. E. LLOYD, B.A.,
Professor of Welsh in the University College of Wales. Aberystwith.
If out of any Welsh mediaeval document we take at random a personal name, the
following statements will probably be found to hold good concerning it.
(1) It is a compound word, easily resolvable, for the most part, into two
co-ordinate elements or roots;
(2) These elements are members of a large class of similar forms, which may
be combined almost at pleasure, in sets of two, to form personal names;
(3) In origin these elements are nouns, brought together in the relation of
nominative and genitive, and with a due regard to sense. In course of time,
however, the system becomes more mechanical; elements are united, to form new
personal names, in a purely arbitrary manner, and without reference to their
meaning.
We take Gurgeneu (modern Gwrgeneu), for instance, from Version B of Annales
Cambriae, under the year 1079 (Rolls Edition; the actual date is 1081).
This resolves itself without difficulty into Gwr + ceneu (modern cenaw); from
the former element we have the names Gwr-gant, Gwr-gi, Gwr-nerth, Gwr-fyw,
Gwr-ddelw, Gwr-wared; from the latter Mor-geneu, Gwyn-geneu, Rhi-geneu. Gwr
meaning a man, a hero, and ceneu a whelp, it is clear that the name is not
intended to make strict sense: Welsh warriors of the olden time were
accustomed to hear themselves admiringly styled
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■ 40 THE PERSONAL NAME-SYSTEM IN OLD WELSH.
"gwyr" and "cenawon", (1) and so the two epithets were
strung loosely together to make a name which might appropriately he borne by
a pugnacious young Welshman.
A few names of undoubtedly British origin depart from this, the all but
universal type, so far as to substitute for the second element an adjectival
suffix. Thus Buddug (the Boudicca of Tacitus, and the Boadicea of modern
writers) is probably an adjectival form obtained from Budd (=victory,
advantage). Even in cases of this kind, however, the noun- element usually
comes from the common stock; Budd, for instance, does duty, in one form or
another, not only in Buddug, but also in Budd-fan, Budd-wallon, Cad-fudd, and
Bodu-gnatus.
A little investigation reveals to us the fact that this method of forming
personal names runs through eyery age of Welsh history, coming to light, in
fact, in the earliest historical records which tell us anything of the
inhabitants of Britain. To make this clear, it is only necessary to trace one
of our name-elements from century to century, beginning with comparatively
modern times, and working our way back until the materials for further
investigation fail us.
CYN- is perhaps the element which in all ages of Welsh history has been the
most popular, and which therefore illustrates most vividly for us this
continuity in the personal name-system. In the
XV Cent, we have Cyn-frig ab Gronw, a leading minstrel in the
Carmarthen Eisteddfod of 1451.
XIV Cent. — Cyn-frig Cynin, the name traditionally given to the
"Eiddig" of Dafydd ap Gwilym.
XIII Cent. — Kyn-an (Brut y Twysogion — Myvyrian Archaeology,
2nd edition, p. 650).
(1) Cynawon cadud, cadrfeib Maredud. — Gwalchmai: Marwnad Madawg ab
Maredudd.
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■ 41 THE PERSONAL NAME-SYSTEM IN OLD WELSH.
XII Cent. — Ken-ewricus (Giraldus Cambrensis, Itinerarium, lib.
II, cap. iv. = Cynwrig).
XI Cent. — Ken-win (Ann. Camb., vers. B, sub anno 1068 [true
date, 1069]. = Cynfyn).
X Cent. — Cin-cenn (Ann. Camb., vers. B, sub anno 946. =
Cyngen).
IX Cent. — Cin-nen (Ann. Camb., vers. B, sub anno 854. In vers.
C, Cengen. = Cyngen).
VIII Cent. — Cin-cen (mentioned as father to Griphiud in Ann. Camb.,
vers. B, sub anno 814. = Cyngen).
VII Cent. — Cin-gien (Cadfan's Pillar at Towyn, ascribed to this or
the following century).
VI Cent. — A period singularly rich in examples of CYN-.
(a) Gildas has Cune-glase and Maglo-cune (both vocatives);
(b) The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle gives us Com-mail and Con-didan
(sub anno 577);
(c) Tradition has handed down, through the medium of triads, saints'
genealogies, and romantic tales, a multitude of other instances, as Cyn-haiarn,
Cyn-deyrn, Cyn-felyn, Cyn-drwyn.
Beyond the sixth century the chain of evidence is less complete; but this is
simply due to the absence of historical records. Such testimony as we get
from inscriptions only confirms the theory that the Welsh inherited their
personal name-system from the earliest historical times. We find the name Cuna-lipi,
for instance, on a Carnarvonshire stone (Rhys, Celtic Britain, p.
294), and Cuno-cenni on one found at Trallong in Brecknockshire (Arch.
Camb., 3rd Series, viii, 52-56). In this way we succeed in partially
bridging over the gap that divides the CYN- names of the sixth century from
the Cuno-belinos of the age of Augustus and the Con-victolitavis
of Ceasar (Bell. Gall., vii, 37), the
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■ 42 THE PERSONAL NAME-SYSTEM IN OLD WELSH.
first undoubtedly, the second in all probability, but older forms of this
element CYN-.
If this reasoning be correct, and the Welsh personal name-system be actually
traceable as far back as the time of Caasar, then we are naturally led to
expect that we shall find a similar system to prevail among the other
branches of the Kymric family; for we have carried our investigations up to a
point at which that family may practically be regarded as homogeneous. As a
matter of fact, Cornish and Breton names of the older class are formed
precisely like Welsh ones; more than this, the same roots are used in all
three languages, though, of course, in varying proportions and in slightly
different forms. CYN- appears in Breton as Con- and sometimes Cun-.
It forms such names as Con-woion, Con-atam, Cun-march; the Chono-moris
of Gregory of Tours carries it back to the sixth century (Zeuss, Grammatica
Celtica, 2nd edition, p. 93). Cornish records supply us with Con-an,
Cen-myn, Con-redeu, Cen-huithel, Ceen-guled (Haddan and Stubbs, Councils
and Ecclesiastical Documents, vol. i, pp. 676-681), while an early
Cornish inscription gives us Cuno- vali (Celtic Britain, p.
297), and thus links the recent evidence with that of the pre-Roman period.
By means of the special example CYN- we have thus been enabled to realise the
historical continuity of the system throughout ages widely differing from each
other. Let us now turn to another aspect — the general prevalence of the
system in each and every age, its lateral extension, so to speak, as
distinguished from its vertical extension through time. This it will be
easiest to illustrate by drawing up a list of the name-elements most commonly
employed, and ranging under each one the names, whether Welsh, Breton,
Cornish, Gaulish, or old British, which seem to be referable to it. The
following is an attempt at such a list, with no pretensions, however, to completeness,
which could scarcely
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■ 43 THE PERSONAL NAME-SYSTEM IN OLD WELSH.
be secured without a larger expenditure of time and patience than the
importance of the results would warrant.
ARTH-. — Arth-bodu (Liber Landavensis, ed. 1840, p. 77); Arth-cumaun (Lib.
L., p. 137); Arth-ual (Lib. L., p. 182); Artb-bleid (Lib. L., p.
236); Arth-gen (Ann. Camb., vers. A, sub anno 807). To these we may probably
add the well known Arth-ur.
=bear: as a name-element possibly of totemistic origin.
-BELIN or -FELYN. — Cuno-belinos; later forms, Con-velin (Lib. L., p.
135) and Cyn-felyn. Llywelyn is also believed to contain the same root (Celtic
Britain, p. 287).
Belenus is mentioned by Ausonius (Burdig. Prof. x) as a Gallic god.
BLED-, BLEIDD. — Bled-ris (Lib. L., p. 176); Bled-ud (Líb.L., p. 195);
Arth-bleid (supra); Bled-bui (Lib. L., p. 190); Bleid- van (Myv.
Arch., 2nd Ed., p. 6); Bled-gur (Lib. L., p. 233). = wolf: another
animal-name.
-BRAN. — Con-uran (Lib. L., p. 69); Lou-bran (Lib. L., p. 135);
Mor-bran (Lib. L., p. 191). = raven.
BUDD-. — Arth-bodu (supra); Gur-vodu (Lib.L., p. 153); Bud-van (Myv.,
p. 6); Bud-gualan (Lib. L., p. 156); Cat- uud (Lib. L, p. 191);
Bud-ic (Lib. L, p. 123). Earlier forms are Boduo-gnatus (Caes., B. G., ii,
23), Ate-boduus, and Bodicus (Gregory of Tours), the last being the masculine
form of the Boudicca of Tacitus. Breton documents yield Cat-wodu, Eu-bodu,
Tri-bodu (Zeuss, p. 22).
= victory, advantage. Cf. Irish buaid and modern Welsh buddugoì.
-BYW, -BWY, -ABWY. — Jun-abui (Lib. L., p. 71); Coll-bui (Lib. L.,
p. 70); Lou-bui (Lib.L., p. 71); Gwern-abui (Lib. L., p. 72);
Gur-bui (Lib. L, p. 142); Ubel-uui (Lib. L., p. 154); Jou-bui (Lib.
L., p. 166); Biu-hearn (Lib. L., p. 166); Conuiu (Lib. L., p.
169); Bled-bui (supra).
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■ 44 THE PERSONAL NAME-SYSTEM IN OLD WELSH.
-CAR, CAR-. — At-gar (Lib. L., p. 138); Cyn-gar (Iolo MSS.,
p. 109); Car-wen (Myv., p. 68). Cf. Breton Guethen-car, Cowal-car, and
Comal-car, cited by Zeuss, pp. 116, 132.
Connected with caru = to love. Caradog and Ceredig are adjectival forms.
CAT-, CAD-. — Cat-gen (Lib. L., p. 124); Cat-gualatyr (ibid.);
Cat-maili (ibid.); Cat-guocaun (Lib. L., p. 126); Cat-gual (Lib. L.,
p. 132); Cat-leu (ibid.); Guen-cat (Lib. L., p. 137); Cat-gueithen
(Lib. L., p. 174); Cat-guaret (Lib.L., -p. 188); Cat-uud (supra);
Din-cat (Lib. L., p. 194); Cad-farch (Myv. } p. 420); Cad-afael (Myv.,
p. 403). Cad-fan and Cad- wallon, two popular Welsh names, appear early
in our history, the former in the Cata-manus of the Llangadwaladr inscription
(Arch. Camb., Old Series, i, 165), the latter as a tribal name in the
Catu-vellauni of Caesar's day. Breton parallels are Cad-nou, Cat-wodu,
Mael-cat (Zeuss, p. 137): similarly in Cornish documents we find
Cat-gustel, Cat- uutic (Bodmin Gospels, apud Haddan and Stubbs, i,
681, 682). = battle, and therefore to be compared with Aer- in Aerthirn (Lib.
Land., p. 142), and Gweith- in Gweith-gno.
-CANT. — Mor-cant (Lib. L., p. 137) — the original form of Morgan;
Guor-cant (Lib. L., p. 194); Mei-gant (Myv., p. 121); Jud-cant
(Lib. L., p. 203). Cf. Cornish Cant- gethen, Wur-cant, Grat-cant, and
Mor-cant (H. and Stubbs, ut supra).
-CENEU. — Mor-cenou (Lib. L., p. 136); Gur-ceniu (Lib. L., p.
142); Ri-geneu (Myv., p. 68); Gwyn-genau (Myv., p. 426). =
whelp.
-CI— Gwr-gi (Myv., p. 398); Hoew-gi (Myv., p. 6). = dog.
CYN-, CON-, -CWN, etc. — Con-uran (supra), Cen-guariu (Lib. L.,
p. 70); Cin-uin (Lib. L., p. 70); Cin-uarch (Lib. L., p. 77);
Con-gual (Lib. L., p. 77); Con-hail (Lib. L., ]». 137);
Con-cenn (Lib. L., p. 124); Con-daf (Lib. L., p. 132);
Con-guare
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■ 45 THE PERSONAL NAME-SYSTEM IN OLD WELSH.
(Lib. L., p. 133); Con-velin (ut
supra); Cyn-uetu (Lib. L., p. 139); Con-uiu (ut supra); Con-uor (Lib.
L., p. 177); Con- gueithen (Lib. L., p. 179); Cyn-ric (Myv.,
p. 5, v. 11. Kyn-ri and Cyn-frig); Cin-tilan (Myv., p. 66); Cyn-drwyn
(Myv., p. 87); Cyn-ddilig (Myv., p. 95); Cyn-llug (ibid.); Kyn-
delu (Myv., -p. 129); Cyn-gar (supra); Cyn-an; Con-thigirn[us]
(Ann. Camb., vers. A, s. a. 612); Cyn-llo (Myv., p. 422);
Cyn-wrig; Cune-glasus (Gildas, Epistola); Maglo-cunus (ibid.), modern
Maelgwn; Tan[g]-gwn (Iolo MSS., p. 104); Cyn- van (Myv., p.
7); Cyn-was (Mabinogion, Oxford edition, p. 107).
Zeuss connects this element with the root cwn-, to rise, as though it meant a
summit, an elevation (Gram. Celt., p. 92). Professor Rhys, while
establishing a connection with the German Hun-, leaves the meaning an open
question (Celtìc Britain, p. 28(3). Possibly, however, we have here
one of these dog- deities (cf. cŵn and Greek kun-ós) to which elsewhere
(p. 260) he alludes. Such a form as Cyn-fab might then be equated with
Mac-beth.
-DELU. — Kyn-delu (supra). = image.
DYFN-. — Dun-guallaun (Lib. L., p. 191); Dyfn-ual (Myv., p.
17); Domn-guaret (Lib. L., p. 199); Dofn-garth (Lib. L., p.
160). The fìrst of these names finds an exact parallel in the Domnoellaunos
of the Ancyran Monument; other early instances of the element Dumno- are
Dumno-rix (Bell. Gall., i, 3), Concenneto-dumn[us] (ib., vii,
3), Domno-taur[us] (ib., vii, 65), and Dumn-acus (ib., viii, 26) — an
adjectival form, which in modern Welsh would be written Dyfn-og.
This element is probably to be connected with the old Irish domun = world,
and either originally meant simply tribe, or was applied to themselves by
tribal rulers who had an exaggerated sense of their own importance.
EL-. — El-hearn (Lib. L., p. 77); El-guoredus (Lib. L., p. 77);
El-iud (Lib.L., -p. 138); El-guid (Lib. L., p. 138); El-bodg (Ann.
C, vers. A, s. a, 809); El-gnou (Lib. L., p. 193);
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■ 46 THE PERSONAL NAME-SYSTEM IN OLD WELSH.
El-wyddan (Myv., p. 91); El-gan (Myv., p. 45); El-fan (Iolo
MSS., p. 100); El-ian (Iolo MSS., p. 101).
ERP-, YRP- appears as a name by itself in Lib. L., p. 72, and Myv.,
p. 391. It forms at least one compound name, viz., Urb-gen (Nennius),
afterwards written Urien.
EU-.— Eu-tigirn (Lib., L., p. 136); Eu-dolen (Lib. L., p. 190);
Eu-tut (Lib. L., p. 264); Eu-dem (Lib. L., p. 181); Eu-daf (Iolo
MSS., p. 118). In the modern name Owain, this eu- (originally ou) has
become o-; the process of change may be traced in the examples Ou-gen (Ann.
Camb., vers. A, s. a. 736), Eu-guen (Lib. L., p. 196), Yugein (Lib.
L., p. 230), Ywein, and Owain. In Breton charters we find Eu-bodu,
Eu-hoiarn, Eu-monoc (Zeuss, p. 82).
Zeuss compares avi- in the Avi-cantus of an inscription at Nismes (p. 82).
EUR-.— Eur-dil (Lib. L., p. 75); Eur-gain (Myv., p. 424);
Eur-olwen (Mab., Oxf. ed., p. 112).
= gold. Used in the formation of female names only, gold being for women, as
iron for men, the specially honourable metal.
-GEN. — Cat-gen (Líb. L., p. 124); Guid-gen (ibid.); Gueith-
gen (Lib. L., p. 136); Sul-gen (Lib. L., p. 137); Anau-gen (Lib.
L., p. 194); Haern-gen (Lib. L., p. 197); Urb-gen (supra);
Arth-gen (supra); Guern-gen (Lib. L., p. 203); Mor-gen (Lib.
L., p. 254).
Cf. the Reitu-genus of an inscription referred to by Zeuss (p. 32), and the
Camulogenus and Verbigenns pagus of Cresar (Bell. Gall, vii, 62).
-GWAS. — Con-guas (Lib. L., p. 165); Mel-guas (Lib. L., p.
174); Drut-guas (Lib. L., p. 265).
= youth, serving lad.
-GWAL. — Con-gual (Lib. L., p. 73) = Cynwal; Cat-gual (Lib. L., p.
132); Dyfn-ual (supra); Arth-ual (Lib. L., p. 182); Tud-aual (Ancient
Laws of Wales, vol. i, p. 104).
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■ 47 THE PERSONAL NAME-SYSTEM IN OLD WELSH.
Cf. Breton forms Clutgual, Dungual, Tutgual, and Guidgual (Zeuss, p.
132).
In the earliest Welsh this element appears as -VAL-, as in the Cunovali of a
Cornish inscription. Professor Rhys identifies it with the Teutonic wolf (Celtic
Britain, p. 282).
-GWALLON. — Ri-uallaun (Lib. L., p. 138); Jud-guallaun (Lib. L., p.
168); Dun-guallaun (Lib. L., p. 191); Cat- guollaun (Ann. C,
vers. A, s. a. 629). Cf. Breton forms Roenwallon, Maenwallon Tutwallon,
Kintwallon, and Cat- wallon (Zeuss, p. 87).
Beyond a doubt connected with the ancient -VELLAUN-, seen in Cassivellaunus,
Vercassivelaunus (Caes., Bell. Gall., vii, 76), and Vellaunodunum.
Identified by Professor Rhys (who, however, distinguishes velaun-,
with one l, from the veljon-, which he supposes to be the archetype of
-wallon) with the Irish follnaim (= regnare) and the Welsh gwlad.
-GWARED. — El-guored[us] (Lib. L., p. 77); Ri-uoret (Lib. L., p.
194); Cat-guaret (Lib. L., p. 206); Gur-wareth (Ann. C., vers.
B, s. a. 1252). Cf. Breton forms Sulworet, Catworet, Worethoiarn (Zeuss,
p. 132), and Cornish Guruaret (H. and Stubbs, i, 682).
= protection, bulwark, the original force of gwaredu being "to
defend", rather than "to deliver".
GWEITH-. — Gueith-gno (Lib. L., p. 137); Gueith-gual (Lib. L., p.
170).
= battle. Cf. aer- and cat-.
GWEN-. — *Guen-garth (Lib. L., p. 138); Car-wen (Myv., p. 68);
Gwen-ddwyn (Myv., p. 91); Gwen-abwy (Mah., p. 109); *Gwen-dolen (Mab.,
p. 301); Gwen-hwyfar (Mab., passim); Guen-hwyfach (Mab.,
p. 301); Bran-wen (ibid.); Gwen-llian (Mab., p. 113); Guenn-wledyr
(Mab., p. 112); *Guenn-uynwyn (Mab., p. 298); Dwyn-wen (Myv.,
p. 423).
Occurs chiefly, but not exclusively, in female names. In the above list,
names of men are marked with an asterisk. No doubt the feminine of Gwyn.
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■ 48 THE PERSONAL NAME-SYSTEM IN OLD WELSH.
-GWOCAUN. — Cat-gucaun (Lib. L., p. 126); Ri-ogan (Myv., p. 68).
Cf. Breton Rinwocon, Iudwocon, Iarnwocon (Zeuss, p. 132).
Cf. Voconius, a name cited by Zeuss from an inscription (p. 773).
GWYDD-. — Guid-gar (Ann C, vers. A, s. a. 630); Guid-gol (Lib. L.,
p. 69); Guid-ei (Lib. L., p. 70); Guid-gen (supra); Guid-nerth
(Lib. L., p. 137); Guid-con (Líb. L., p. 155); Gwydd-no (Myv.,
p. 69); Gwydd-uarch (Myv., p. 426); Saturn-guid (Lib. L., p.
273); Auall-guid (Lib. L., p. 217).
The last instance given seems to point to gwydd = trees, as the root made use
of in names of this kind. So Zeuss, p. 128. But gwydd also means knowledge,
ìnsight (Lat. vid-[eo], Greek fid, Sans. vid, Germ. wiss[en], and Eng. wit),
a meaning which has far more point than the other as applied to personal
names.
GWYN-. — Ked-wyn (Myv., p. 420); Gwyn-lleu (Myv., p. 426);
Gwyn-genau (Myv., p. 426); Tec-wyn (Myv., p. 430); Gwenwyn-wyn
(supra); Gwyn-gat (Mab., p. 107); Coll-wyn (Iolo MSS.,
p. 229).
The masculine form of Gwen. It does not appear to have been a popular
name-element in primitive times, inasmuch as all the instances here given are
from comparatively modern sources.
-GWYSTL. — Ar-guistil (Lib. L., p. 69); El-gistil (Lib. L., p.
70); Gur-guistil (Lib. L., p. 137); Tan-gwystyl (Myv., p. 724).
Cornish forms are Tancwoystel, Anaguistl, and Methwuistel (H. and Stubbs,
i, 677-082).
= pledge, surety. Thus, when a Welshman named his daughter Tangwystl, he
called her, prettily enough, a "pledge of peace".
GWR;-. — Gur-docui (Lib. L., p. 74); Gur-dilic (Lib. L., p.
137); Gur-guistil (ibid.); Gur-haual (ibid.); Gur-vodu (supra); Gwr-gi
(swpra); Gur-march (Lib. L., p. 176); Guor-hoidil (Lib. L., p.
180); Gur-bui (supra); Gur-cant (supra); Gur-ceniu (supra);
Gur-wareth (supra). This form is variously written in Breton, as
Guorgomet, Worlowen, Wrmaelon, Gurwant, Gorloios, and Vurwal (Zeuss,
p. 133).
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■ 49 THE PERSONAL NAME-SYSTEM IN OLD WELSH.
In Cornish it appears as Wur, e.g., in Wurlowen, Wurcant, and Wurdylic (H.
and Stubbs, ut supra).
The Vercassivelaunus and Vercingetorix of Caesar (Bell. Gall., vii,
76, 4) make it fairly certain that we have here the intensive prefix ver-,
represented in modern Welsh by gor-. So, too, we should gather from the older
Welsh names Guorthigern (Nennius), and Guortepir (Pedigree of Owain ap Hywel
Dda in Williams's edition of Ann. Camb.). In later times, however, to
judge from the fact that Gwr and not Gor is the popular form of
the root, a confusion arose between this prefix and another Gwr (Lat. vir),
the oldest form of which was probably VIRO-, as in Viromanus (Zeuss,
p. 773. = Gwrfan).
-HAFAL. — Guor-haual (Lib. L., p. 196); Kyn-haval (Myv., p.
421). In Breton we get Wiuhamal and Leuhemel (Zeuss, p. 111).
Hafal is the Irish samal, Lat. simil-is, = same, like. Hence as a
name-element it probably stands for "likeness, image". Cf. -delw
above.
-HAIARN. — El-hearn (supra); Haern-gen (supra); Biu- hearn (Lib.
L., p. 166); Cun-hearn (Lib. L., p. 176); Tra- haearn (Myv., p.
142); Tal-haiarn (Nennius); Llwchaearn (Myv., p. 427). A very
common element in Breton and Cornish names: thus among the former we have
Wiuhoiarn, Worethoiarn, Iarnguallon (Zeuss, p. 132), Iarnhaitou (p.
149), Roienhoiarn (p. 152), and Hoiargen (p. 137); among the latter
Iarnwallon (H. and Stubbs, ut supra).
= iron, the material out of which the best weapons were made. The epithet
probably came into fashion in the prehistoric period, when, as we learn from
Caesar (Bell. Gall., v. 12), iron was scarce, and reckoned a precious
metal.
IUD. — Iud-ris (Ann. C., vers. A., sub anno 632); Ind-guoll (Ann. C.,
vers. A., s. a. 842); Iud-nou (Lib.L., p. 70); Iud-on (Lib. L., p.
71); Id-nerth (Lib. L., p. 124); Iud-guallon (Lib. L., p. 145);
Iud-hail {Lib. L., p. 166); Iud-guoret (Lib. L., p. 174);
Iud-cant (supra); Id-loes (Myv., p. 426). Cf. Cornish Iudhent (H.
and Stubbs, i, 682), and Breton Judlowen and Judwocon (Zeuss, p.
132).
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■ 50 THE PERSONAL NAME-SYSTEM IN OLD WELSH.
LOU-, LEU. — Lou-bui (supra); Lou-bran (supra); Lou-ronui (Lib.
L., p. 175); Lou-march (Ann. C, vers. A., s. a. 903); Cat-leu (Lib.
L., p. 132); Mor-leu (Lib. L., p. 193); Gwyn- lleu (supra);
Lewelin (Ann. C, vers. B., s. a, 1023); Leu- haiarn (Lib. L., p.
153). Cf. Cornish Loumarch and Lywci (H. and Stubbs, ut supra),
and Breton Leuhemel (Zeuss, p. 111).
= lion.
-MAN. — Gor-uan (Lib. L., p. 09); Bud-van (Myv., p. 6);
Bleid-van (ibid.); Cyn-van (Myv., p. 7); Tec-uan (Myv., p.
430); Doc-van (Myv., p. 423); El-fan (Iolo MSS., p. 100);
Cad-fan (supra).
MAEL-. — Broc-mail (Lib. L., p. 124); Maglo-cun[os] (Gildas);
Teyrn-uael (Myv., p. 67); Caran-mael (Myv., p. 91); Fern-uail (Lib.
L., p. 186); Mael-daf (Ancient Laws of Wales, i, p. 104); Mor-fael (Myv.,
p. 425); En-vael (Myv., p. 404)'; Doc-vael (Myv., p. 423);
Cyn-fael. Common in Breton, as Arthmael, Maeloc, Gurmahilon (Zeuss,
pp. 114, 102).
This element was originally dissyllabic, and contained a g, as in the Taximagulus
of Caesar (Bell. Gall., v, 22). Other ancient instances are Maglus
(Livy), Magalus, Conomaglus, Vinnemaglus, and Senemaglus in various
inscriptions; Professor Rhys identifies it with the Irish mal, a hero (Celtìc
Britain, p. 297).
-MARCH. — Cin-uarch (Lib. L., p. 77); Cad-farch (supra);
Gwydd-uarch (supra); Gur-march (supra); Lou-marcli (supra);
Eyth-march (Myv., p. 608).
= horse. Another totemistic name.
MOR-. — Mor-guid (Lib. L., p. 115); Mor-bran (supra); Mor- caut
(supra); Mor-cenou (supra); Mor-gen (supra); Mor- leu (supra);
Mor-fael (supra); Cin-uor (Lib. L., p. 177); Mor-daf (Mab.,
p. 304); Mor-deyrn (Myv., p. 428); Mor- march (Lib. L., p.
273); Mor-eitig (Myv., p. 191). Cf. the Cornish names Morhath,
Morcant, and Moruiw, and the Iireton Morwethen (Zeuss, p. 152),
Morman, and Mormoet (p. 111).
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■ 51 THE PERSONAL NAME-SYSTEM IN OLD WELSH.
Zeuss identifies this element with the Irish már, Welsh mawr, and the
suffix -marus, so common in old Celtic names (pp. 94 and 16). But (1) -marus
is invariably a final element, as in Vindomarus (Caes., Bell. Gall.,
vii, 39), and Comboiomarus (Livy), while mor- usually precedes, as in
Morgan and Mordaf. (2) Adjectival name-elements are rare in Welsh, teg and
gwyn being almost the only instances. (3) mor-, and not mar- or mawr-, is the
spelling employed in the oldest Welsh, e.g., in the Cunomori of the
Fowey stone (H. and Stubbs, i, 163). On the whole we seem to be on
safer ground in connecting mor- with the Moritasgus of Caesar.
-NERTH. — Guid-nerth (supra); Id-nerth (supra); Tut-nerth (Lib.
L., p. 150); Gwr-nerth (Myv., p. 123); Cyf-nerth (Anc. Laws,
i, p. 622).
= strength. Cf. -wared.
-NO, -GNOU, -NOU. — Iud-nou (supra); El-gnou (supra);
Gueith-gno (supra); Gwydd-no (supra); Clid-no (Anc. Laws,
i, p. 104); Tud-no (Myv., p. 430); Mach-no (Iolo MSS, p. 81.
Cf. Penmachno in Carnarvonshire). The Breton form is -nou, as in Haelnou,
Budnou, Arthnou, Cadnou (1) (Zeuss, p. 137).
-RI.— Tut-ri (Lib. L., p. 271); Jud-ri (Lib. L., p. 273); Ri-
geneu (supra); Bi-guallaun (Lib. L., p. 138); Bi-uoret (Lib.
L., p. 194); Clot-ri (Lib. L., p. 168); Ri-hoithil (Lib. L., p.
141); Mou-ric (Ann. C, vers. A., s. a. 849); Bot-ri (Ann. C,
vers. A., s. a. 754); Bled-ri (Myv., p. 603). The Breton forms are Ri-
(Rianau: Zeuss, p. 133), Rin- (Rinwocon: ib., p. 132), Roin- and
Roiant- (Roinwallon and Roiantwallon: ib.).
= king. Exemplified in many of the older names, e.g., Ambi- orix, Cingetorix,
Orgetorix (Caesar).
(1) Cadno, a personal name of the ordinary type, is curiously enough in many
parts of Wales the regular name for a fox, elsewhere known as "
llwynog". As the name itself bears no obvious reference to the qualities
of the animal (" battle hero" would perhaps render it roughly), it
is possibly of the same type as the Teutonic Reynard, coming to us from a
Welsh beast epic of which we have no other trace.
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■ 52 THE PERSONAL NAME-SYSTEM IN OLD WELSH.
SUL-. — Sul-gen (supra); Sul-uui (Lib. L., p. 151); Sul-
haithuai (Giraldus Cambr., Itin., ii, 1); Sul-idir (ib.). This
is an element which also appears in Cornish (Sulmeath, Sulcaen, H. and
Stubbs), and Breton (Sulworet, Sulwoion, Zeuss, p. 132).
This element must be identified with the god Sul, whose name appcars in Dydd
Sul (Sunday). In support of this view it is only necessary to quote instances
of the way in which other day-deities are similarly laid under contribution.
We have (1) Llun- werth— Bishop of St. David's in the ninth century; a
doubtful instance, inasmuch as Ann. Camb. (vers. B., s. a. 874) has Llan-
werth, and Brut y Tywysogion Lwmbert. R. de Diceto, however, has
Lunverd. (See H. and Stubbs, i, p. 208.) Luncen (a Cornish
instance, H. and Stubbs, i, p.681). (2) Ioubiu (Lib. L., p.
163). Ioude (Lib. L., p. 254). (3) Saturnguid (Lib.
L., p. 273). Saturnhia (ib.). One is tempted to inquire
whether this British sun-god is not the Sul of Aquae Sulis.
-TAF. — Con-daf (supra); Eu-daf (supra); Gwyn-daf (supra);
Mael-daf (supra); Mor-daf (supra); Cawr-daf {Myv., p.
389); Dall-daf (Mab., p. 106).
This element appears in the Cunatami of an Irish inscription (Zeuss,
p. 92).
TANG-. — Tang-wystl (supra); Tang-wn (supra); Tang-no (father
of Collwyn, the founder of one of the xv Tribes of Gwynedd).
= peace.
-TEYRN. — Con-thigirn[us] (supra); Teyrn-uael (supra);
Mor-deyrn (supra); Eu-tegirn (Lib. L., p. 130); Aer-thirn (Lib.
L., p. 142); Vor-tigernus (supra). Cf. Cornish Wendeern (H. and
Stubbs, ut supra). — ruler.
TUT-.— Tut-bulc (Lib. L., p. 271); Eu-tut (supra); Tud-wal (supra);
Tut-nerth (supra); Tud-no (supra); Tut-ri (supra);
Tut-hed (Lib.L., p. 191); Tut-mab (ib.). Cf. Cornish Tidherd
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■ 53 THE PERSONAL NAME-SYSTEM IN OLD WELSH.
(H. and Stubbs, ut supra), and Breton Tutwallon (Zeuss,
p. 87) and Tutgual (p. 132).
= country, tribe. Hence Caesar's Teutomatus (Bell. Gall., vii, 46)
probably means "good to the nation".
In its main features the Welsh name-system is of course by no means
peculiarly Welsh, but rather Aryan. Greek names, for instance, were formed on
a plan closely resembling that which has just been described; in
Demo-sthenes, Demo-kritos, Neo-kles, and Nausi-kles we recognise the same
shuffling together of the stock of name-elements as we see in Tud-nerth (the
Welsh equivalent of Demo-sthenes, Tud-ri, Rhi-wallon. and Cad-wallon. Anglo-Saxon
nomenclature is of the same type: Aethel does duty in a host of compounds,
such as Aethel-berht, Aethel-red, Aethel-stan, Aethel-wine, and Aethel-wulf;
-wine enters into a number of others, such as Ead-wine, Os-wine, and
Aesc-wine. Similarly in German we have Gott-fried and Gott-lieb, Fried-rich
and Hein-rich, Mein-hard and Bern-hard, all formed on the samee general
principle; and a great number of Irish and Gaelic names also conform to the
same model. Thus, among the results of an examination of the Welsh personal
name-system, we may place first —
(1) The establishment of a fresh link of connection between the Brythonic or
Kymric race and the Aryan world at large. But this in itself is scarcely more
valuable than if we were to discover a new proof of the Copernican theory: it
is only making "assurance double sure". A more instructive result
of our inquiry is
(2) The proof afforded of the solidarity of Welsh, Cornish, and Breton as
members of one Brythonic family.
Nothing can help us better to realise the intimacy of the connection existing
between the comnmnities speaking these three languages than the fact that
they had a stock of name-elements
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■ 54 THE PERSONAL NAME-SYSTEM IN OLD WELSH.
in common, not merely inheriting from common ancestors a particular method of
forming new names, but using in the application of that method precisely the
same material.
A third result is
(3) The establishment of unbroken continuity between the mediaeval Welsh and
the Britons and Gauls of the earliest historic times.
The interval between the Claudian conquest and the final delimitation of
Wales under Offa is filled with race-movements and revolutions, as yet only
partially understood. How Roman supremacy affected the tribes of the
mountainous west; what part was played by the Northern Kymry in the general
dissolutiun and rearrangement of communities in the fifth century; who the
Welsh were, ethnologically speaking, in the time of Alfred the Great - these
are questions which the industry and skill of historians and ethnologists may
yet answer, but which so far have had little light thrown upon them. Here is
one fact, however, which in any inquiry of the kind must be taken into
account — the personal name-system of the Britons is identical with that of
the Welsh, running right through the period of confusion. No explanation of
that period, then, can be satisfactory which neglects to provide for the due
maintenance of continuity between prae-Roman and mediaeval Wales.
In conclusion, let me add that I am far from supposing that the system
described above includes all that can be said about Welsh personal names.
There are, indeed, several other classes of names, each with its tale to tell
about the past of the race — the monosyllabic names, such as Nudd, Pwyll,
Math, and Don; the borrowed names, such as Emrys, Edern, Tewdwr, and Dafydd;
the adjectival names, such as Madog, Caradog, Buddug, and Dyfrig. In any
endeavour to evolve the history of the Welsh people out of their personal
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■ 55 THE PERSONAL NAME-SYSTEM IN OLD WELSH.
names, these must be taken into account; they must not, however, be allowed
to obscure the central system, that of widest prevalence, the continuity of
which is the main thing to be vindicated.
Perhaps I should add, in self-defence, that I do not pretend to be a
philologist, and that all I have attempted to do in this paper has been to
collect the materials which philology supplies in illustration of an
historical problem — the origin of the Welsh personal name-system.
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