Etymology of Place Names

Many of the place names in Legend of the Bones derive from the Brythonic languages of Wales and Cornwall.  I have noted these on this page, as much to remind myself but also for anyone with an interest in such things.

Pen, Pol, Tre

Many place names start with the prefixes Pen, Pol or Tre.  These are very commonly found in Cornwall and have the following meanings:

Pen: Hill, Head, Headland

Pol: Pond, Lake, Well

Tre: Homestead, Home, Farm, Settlement

Places in Legend of the Bones

Realms:

Pow a'n Mor
Origin: Cornish
Meaning: Land of the Sea

The people of Pow a'n Mor are known as the Moren, which means Sea Folk - This refers to their migration from Llanrhys, 1200 years before our story begins

Llanrhys
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Literally 'Ardent Church' but I have used 'Llan' in the context of its English cognate 'Land', and the interpretation of 'Rhys' as 'Fiery', therefore meaning 'Fiery Land' or 'Land of Fire', referring to the Waelen legend that the land was formed from the body of the Dragon, Yddranys.

Settlements and Geographical features:

Angarrak
Origin: Cornish
Meaning: Of the Rock. Derived from "a'n" meaning 'of the' and 'Karrek' meaning 'rock'

Gwyls Koos
Origin: Cornish
Meaning: The Wild Wood

Hawnys
Origin: Cornish
Meaning: Haven

Karrek Uhgel
Origin: Cornish
Meaning: High Rock

Kefyl Vale
Origin: Cornish
Meaning: Horse Vale

Kerow Du
Origin: Cornish
Meaning: Dark Fortress / Black Fortress

Ker Polmear
Origin: Cornish
Meaning: Fort of the Lake Boundary

Maes Carrollan
Origin: Welsh/Gaelic
Meaning: Field of the fierce Battle

Marow Koos
Origin: Cornish
Meaning: Dead Wood

Menydh Digoweth
Origin: Cornish
Meaning: The Lonely Mountain

Penglannow
Origin: Cornish
Meaning: Headland of Clear Water 

Penmelkeyn
Origin: Cornish
Meaning: Spine's End

Polmenydh
Origin: Cornish
Meaning: Lake in the Hills

Pons Dinas
Origin: Cornish
Meaning: Fortified Bridge

Porthyeyn
Origin: Cornish
Meaning: Cold Harbour

Porthcullen
Origin: Cornish
Meaning: Port Cullen / Cullen Harbour

Pencarath
Origin: Cornish
Meaning: Headland of Carath / Carath's Hill

Trevance
Origin: Cornish
Meaning: Holy Settlement / Home of the Saint

Trevenedh
Origin: Cornish & Welsh
Meaning: Venerated Home

Ynys Carrollan
Orgin: Welsh
Meaning: Isle of the Fierce Battle

Ynys Gwynn
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Blessed Isle, White Isle

Ynys Nath
Origin: Welsh/Cornish
Meaning: Puffin Isle

Ynys Myghten
Orgin: Welsh & Cornish
Meaning: Isle of the King

Y Lefelau Carrollan
Origin: Welsh
Meaning The Carrollan Levels








No comments:

Episode 36 Show Notes

  Thank You  A huge thank you to everyone who has listened to and supported the show, and particularly the following folks for their encoura...