Welsh Place Names H-K
HARLECH (Gwy) Hardelagh (1290-2). Meaning: WELSH hardd ‘fair, handsome' and lech ‘stone, slab'. Edward I's castle was built 1285-90; the name probably pre-dates this.
HAROLDSTON WEST (Dyf) Harauldystone (1307). Meaning: Harald's OE tun ‘farm, settlement'.
HASGUARD (Dyf) Huscard (1291). Earliest record: Huscart (c. 1200). Meaning: OSCAN hus ‘house' and probably skarth ‘cleft, pass'.
HAVERFORDWEST (Dyf) Hareford (1283). Earliest record: Haverfordia (c. 1191). Meaning: probably OE hæfr ‘he-goat, buck' and ford. West was added about 1400 to distinguish it from Hereford.
HAWARDEN / PENARLAG (Clw) Hawardin (1278) / Pennard halawg Earliest record: Haordine (1086). Meaning: from OE heah ‘high' and worthign ‘enclosure, farm'. Welsh Meaning: from penn ‘head, top' and gardd ‘garden, enclosure'. Edward I rebuilt the castle in stone.
HAY-ON-WYE / Y GELLI (Pow) Haya (1254) / i'r Gelli (1450). Earliest record: Hagan (958). Meaning: OE (ge)hæg ‘fence, enclosed forest', here probably an area enclosed for hunting. Welsh Meaning: WELSH gelli ‘grove, small wood'.
HERBRANDSTON (Dyf) Herbraundystone (1307). Earliest record: Villa Herbrandi (13th century). Meaning: Herbrand's OE tun ‘farm, settlement'.
HEREFORD / HENFFORDD (Her) Hereford (13th century) / Henfford (13th century). Earliest record: Hereford (958). Meaning: from OE here ‘army' and ford. In WELSH from hen ‘old' and fford.
HODGESTON (Dyf) Hoggeston (1376). Earliest record: Villa Hogges (1291). Meaning: Hodge's tun ‘farm, settlement'. Hogge was a side form of the name Roger.
HOLYHEAD / CAERGYBI (Gwy) Haliheved (1315) / Karkeby (1316). Earliest Record: Castrum Cuby (1283). Meaning: WELSH caer ‘fort' of St. Cybi. The English form Haliheved in 1315 contains OE halig ‘holy' and heafod ‘headland'.
HOLYWELL / TREFFYNNON (Clw) Haliwell (1250) / Trerfynnawn (1209). Earliest Record: Helelwele (1247). Meaning: OE halig ‘holy' and wielle ‘well'. This, so legend has it, was the place where water miraculously bubbled up after St. Winifred's decapitated head was rejoined to her body. (Her actual WELSH name was Gwenfrewi.) Welsh Meaning: WELSH tref ‘town' and fynnon ‘well'.
HOPE (Clw) Hopp (1283). Earliest Record: Hope (1086). Meaning: OE hop ‘valley'.
HYSSINGTON (Pow) Husinton (1227). Meaning: Husa's OE tun ‘farm, settlement'.
JEFFREYSTON (Dyf) Geffreiston (1362). Earliest Record: Villa Galfri (1291). Meaning: Galfrid's OE tun ‘farm, settlement'.
JOHNSTON (Dyf) Johnyston (1406). Earliest Record: villa Johannis (1296). Meaning: John's OE tun ‘farm, settlement'.
KENFIG (WGl) Kenfig Meaning: uncertain.
KIDWELLY (Dyf) Kedwely (1278). Earliest Record: Cetgueli (10th century). Meaning: a personal name Cadwal plus the suffix -i ‘the land of Cadwal'. The first defences date from early the 12th century
KNIGHTON / TREFCLYO (Pow) Knygheton (1283) / Trebuclo (1536-9). Earliest Record: Chenistetone (1086). Meaning: from OE cniht ‘servant, soldier' and tun ‘farm, settlement'. Welsh Meaning: from WELSH tref ‘farm, town' on y ‘the' clawdd ‘dyke' (Offa's dyke).
KNOCKIN (Shr) Knuckin ). Earliest Record: Cnochin (1165). Meaning: WELSH ‘bump, hillock'.
KNUCKLAS (Pow) Knucklas Meaning: probably from WELSH cnwch ‘small hill' and glas ‘green'. There was a castle in the 12th century