Welsh Place Names W-Y
WALTON EAST (Dyf) Waleton (1338). Earliest Record: Waletuna (1230). Meaning: probably "Wale's OE tun ‘farm' ". Walter, son of Wale, is mentioned in a 12th century charter.
WALTON WEST (Dyf) Waleton (1290). Meaning: probably OE Weala ‘the Welsh' and tun ‘farm', referring to some survivors of the Norman invasion.
WALWYN'S CASTLE (Dyf) Castle Gaweyn (1290). Meaning: probably from an original CELTIC Gwalchmai's castell ‘castle'. The name appears in the Arthurian legend as Gawayn.
WELSHPOOL / TRALLWNG LLYWELYN (Pow) Pola (1265) / Trallwg ym Powys (1196). Earliest Record: Pola (1253). Earliest Welsh Record: Trallwg Llywellin (1108). Meaning: OE pol ‘pool, creek' (the Lledin Brook). In WELSH trallwng ‘pool, marsh' of Llywelyn.
WEOBLEY (WGl) Webbelegha (1306). Meaning: the same meaning as Weobley, Hereford, (see next entry) after which it may have been named.
WEOBLEY (Her) Webbel' (1250). Earliest Record: Wibelai (1086). Meaning: ‘Wibba's or Weobba's OE leah ‘wood, clearing''. OE wibba meant ‘worm, beetle' and webbe meant ‘weaver'.
WHITCHURCH (Dyf) Wytchyrch (1403). Earliest Record: Ecclesia Alba (1291). Meaning: OE hwit ‘white' cirice ‘church'. This may simply have been a stone church at a time when most were made of wood.
WHITCHURCH (CARDIFF) (SGl) Witechurche (13th century). Meaning: OE hwit ‘white' cirice ‘church'. See previous entry. Some early stone churches, however, were indeed white-washed.
WHITE CASTLE (Gwe) White Castle Meaning: self-explanatory.
WHITLAND / TY GWYN AR DAF (Dyf) Wytlond (1303). Meaning: OE hwit ‘white' and land ‘estate'; it is, however, a translation of an earlier WELSH y ty gwyn ‘the white house'. The Abbey was founded in 1140.
WHITSON (Gwe) Wytteston (1291). Meaning: OE wid ‘wide' combined with either tun ‘farm, settlement' or stan ‘stone'. Wid may have been a personal name.
WHITTINGTON / DREFWEN (Shr) Whitinton (1237) / Trefwen (1254). Earliest Record: Wititone (1086). Meaning: from OE hwit ‘white' and tun ‘farm, settlement'. Welsh Meaning: from wen ‘white' and tref ‘farm'.
WIGMORE (Her) Wiggemora (1165). Earliest Record: Wigemore (1086). Meaning: it is either "Wicga's OE mor ‘moor' " or from WELSH gwig ‘glade, wood' and mawr big. OE wicga meant ‘insect'.
WISTON (Dyf) Wystune (1319). Earliest Record: Castellum Wiz (1148). Meaning: LATIN "Wizo's castle", later OE tun ‘farm'. Wizo Flandrensis is mentioned in a 12th century charter.
WORTHENBURY (Clw) Worthenbury (1300). Earliest Record: Hurdingberie (1086). Meaning: from OE worthig ‘enclosure' and burh ‘fortified manor, fort'.
WREXHAM (Clw) Gwregsam (1292). Earliest Record: Wristlesham (1161). Meaning: Wrytel's OE hamm ‘land in the bend of a river'. OE wryhta meant ‘workman'.
WYE, RIVER. Earliest Record: Waege (956) Weye (1292) / Gwy (1292). Earliest Welsh Record: Guoy (c. 800). Meaning: a very old BRITISH river name of unknown origin.
YSTRAD MEURIG (Dyf) Ystrad Meurig Meaning: WELSH ystrad ‘vale, wide valley' of Meurig.
YSTRADGYNLAIS (Pow) Stradgenles Meaning: WELSH ystrad ‘vale, wide valley' of Cynlais.