Welsh Place Names M
MACHYNLLETH (Pow) Machenleyd (1254). Meaning: from WELSH ma- ‘plain, low-lying land' and the personal name Cynllaith, which means ‘kind, gentle' as an adjective and ‘slaughter, destruction' as a noun. The name is not connected with the Roman station Maglona.
MAENCLOCHOG (Dyf) Maenclochog Meaning: from WELSH maen ‘rock' and, possibly, cloch ‘bell'.
MALPAS (Gwe) Mawpas (1291). Meaning: from FRENCH ‘evil or bad pass'.
MANCOT (Clw) Manecote (1284). Meaning: Mana's OE cot ‘cottage'.
MANMOEL (Gwe) Mapernoil Meaning: from WELSH man ‘place' and moel ‘bare'.
MANORBIER (Dyf) Maenorbyr Earliest Record: Mansio Pyrri (1188). Meaning: from WELSH maenor, an ancient land division, and St. Pyr (a sixth century saint). The castle was rebuilt in stone in the 12th century.
MARGAM (WGl) Margan Meaning: from the 7th century Prince Morgan of Gwent, who also gave his name (combined with WELSH glan ‘shore') to Glamorgan. Morgan may derive from WELSH môr ‘sea' and geni ‘to be born' or simply means ‘the bright one'. The Abbey was founded 1147.
MARSHFIELD (Gwe) Mersfeld (1291). Meaning: OE mersc ‘marsh' and feld ‘open area'.
MATHRE (Dyf) Martre Meaning: unknown.
MEIDRIM (Dyf) Mydrym Meaning: WELSH ‘middle ridge'.
MEIFOD (Pow) Meifod Meaning: WELSH ‘middle dwelling'. It was an early Welsh mother church.
MENAI STRAIT (Gwy) Menei (13th century). Earliest Record: Mene (11th century). Meaning: WELSH men- (probably related to myn- in myned ‘to go') and -ai ‘flow'.
MENAI BRIDGE / Y BORTH (Gwy) Porthatheu (1291). Earliest Record: Menai Bridge (1826). Meaning: see Menai Strait. Welsh Meaning: WELSH porth ‘ferry' and the tribal name Daethwy.
MERTHYR TYDFIL (WGl) Merthyr Tutuil (13th century). Earliest Record: Merthir (1254). Meaning: WELSH merthyr ‘martyr; martyr's grave' of St. Tudful.
MERTHYR CYNOG (Pow) Merthyr Cynog Meaning: WELSH merthyr ‘martyr; martyr's grave' of St. Cynog.
MILFORD HAVEN / ABERDAUGLEDDYF (Dyf) Muleford (1293). Earliest Record: de Molverdico portu (1191). Earliest Welsh Record: Aber Dav Gleddef (15th century) Meaning: from OSCAN melr ‘sand-bank' and fjorthr ‘fiord'; haven was added later when the original meaning was forgotten. The town is modern. Welsh Meaning: from WELSH aber ‘mouth' of the dau ‘two' Cleddau. The river name Cleddau means ‘sword', either because it shone or because it cuts through the land.
MOLD / YR WYDDGRUG (Clw) Mohald (1254) / Gythe Gruc (1280-1). Meaning: from NORMAN FRENCH mont-hault ‘high hill'. Also WELSH Yr ‘the' gwydd ‘tomb, sepulchre' crug ‘mound'.
MONMOUTH / TREFYNWY (Gwe) Monmouth (1267) / Aper Mynuy (c. 1150). Earliest Record: Munwi Mutha (11th century). Meaning: "the OE mutha ‘mouth' of the River Mynwy". The river name may be from the Menapii tribe or similar to Menai (see above). Also WELSH aber ‘mouth', later changed to tref ‘town'.
MONTGOMERY / TREFALDWYN (Clw) Moungomery (1292) / Kastell Baldwin (14th century). Earliest Record: Montgomeri (1086). Meaning: the pre-1086 castle was built by Roger de Montgomery (his title came from the village in Normandy) and was granted to Baldwin de Bollers in 1102. Welsh Meaning: WELSH castell means ‘castle', later changed to tref ‘town'.
MORLAIS (MGl) Morlais Meaning: a derivation from WELSH môr ‘sea' and lais ‘voice' is possible, although geographically unlikely.
MOSTYN (Clw) Mostone (1335). Earliest Record: Mostone (1086). Meaning: from OE mos ‘moss' and tun ‘farm, settlement'.
MOYLGROVE / TREWYDDEL (Dyf) Molde Grove (1326). Earliest Record: Ecclesia de g'n Matild' (1291). Meaning: "Matilda's OE grafa ‘grove' ". Also WELSH tre ‘farm' with a personal name.