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Geography of Welsh - City Names and what they mean (R-Z)

© Sandra Jones

Welcome to the last instalment of the series Geography of Welsh – City names and what they mean. In this article we will be looking at cities and villages beginning with the letters R-Z.

Reynoldston – Most likely named for a Flemish settler who occupied the area during the first King Henry’s reign

Rhandirmwyn – thought to mean pleasant land

Rhossili – sea moor land

Ruabon – hillside of Mabon

St. Clears – site of early Norman settlement, dedicate to St. Clare

St. David’s – David’s House. David is the patron saint of Wales

Skokholm – Island off the Welsh coast, its name comes from the Norse, meaning wooded land

Solva – true meaning is unknown, but the name is thought to mean muddy water

Swansea – Welsh name was originally Cae Wyr, the fortress of Gower. Current Welsh name is Abertawe, meaning the mouth of the river Tawe. It has been said that the English version of the name commemorates Sweyn, a Dane seaman whose fleet was destroyed in the Swansea bay in the 7th century

Tenby – Small fort

Tonypandy – the marsh of the black hollow

Tonyrefail – skin on the surface of the water

Trimsaran – ridgeway

Tumble – named for the Tumble Inn

Velindre – place of the mill

Whitland – the old white house on the Taf

Ystalyfera – possibly means island above the river

Ystradfellte – valley of the swift river

Ystradgynlais – valley of the river Cynlais ,Welcome to the last instalment of the series Geography of Welsh – City names and what they mean. In this article we will be looking at cities and villages beginning with the letters R-Z.

Reynoldston – Most likely named for a Flemish settler who occupied the area during the first King Henry’s reign

Rhandirmwyn – thought to mean pleasant land

Rhossili – sea moor land

Ruabon – hillside of Mabon

St. Clears – site of early Norman settlement, dedicate to St. Clare

St. David’s – David’s House. David is the patron saint of Wales

Skokholm – Island off the Welsh coast, its name comes from the Norse, meaning wooded land

Solva – true meaning is unknown, but the name is thought to mean muddy water

Swansea – Welsh name was originally Cae Wyr, the fortress of Gower. Current Welsh name is Abertawe, meaning the mouth of the river Tawe. It has been said that the English version of the name commemorates Sweyn, a Dane seaman whose fleet was destroyed in the Swansea bay in the 7th century

Tenby – Small fort

Tonypandy – the marsh of the black hollow

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