Llan (placename)

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Llan (Welsh pronunciation: [ɬan]) and its variants (Breton: lan; Cornish: lann; Pictish: lhan; Scottish Gaelic: lann;[1]) are a common placename element in Celtic languages. The (often mutated) name of the relevant saint or location[2] follows the element: for example "Llanfair" is the parish or settlement around the church of St. Mair (Welsh for "Mary").

The various forms of the word are cognate with English land and lawn and presumably initially denoted a specially cleared and enclosed area of land.[3][4] In late antiquity, it came to be applied particularly to the sanctified land occupied by communities of Christian converts. It is part of the name of over 630 locations in Wales and nearly all have some connection with a local patron saint. These were usually the founding saints of the parish,[5] relatives of the ruling families who invaded Wales during the early Middle Ages.[6] The founder of a new llan was obligated to reside at the site and to eat only once a day, each time taking a bit of bread and an egg and drinking only water and milk. This lasted for forty days, Sundays excepted, after which the land was considered sanctified forever.[5] The typical llan employed or erected a circular or oval embankment with a protective stockade, surrounded by wood or stone huts.[7] Unlike Saxon practice, these establishments were not chapels for the local lords but almost separate tribes, initially some distance away from the secular community.[8] Over time, however, it became common for prosperous communities to either become monasteries forbidden to lay residents or to become fully secular communities controlled by the local lord.[9]

In the later Middle Ages, llan also came to denote entire parishes, both as an ecclesiastical region and as a subdivision of a commote or hundred.

Place names in Wales[]

Places named after saints[]

(All pages with titles beginning with Llan)

Place names with religious connections other than a saint[]

  • Llandaff, named after the River Taff[10]
  • Llandeloy, Uncertain
  • Llandrindod, named after the Trinity (Welsh: y Drindod)
  • Llanfachraeth, Church of the little beach
  • Llanfaes, 'Church of the Field' from llan + maes (field) (Originally dedicated to Saint Fagan).
  • Llanfarian after Capel Marian
  • Llangefni, named after the River Cefni (Previously known as Llangyngar, after )
  • Llangorwen possibly from `Corwen` meaning `white church or choir`
  • See Llanllugan Abbey
  • Llansoy, after Tysoi, thought to have been a pupil of St. Dyfrig.
  • Llanymynech (part) `Church of the Monks`

Place names without a religious connection[]

  • Bwlch-Llan, Ceredigion
  • Landimore
  • Llan, Powys
  • Llanaber
  • , after the River Aeron
  • Llanarmon-yn-Ial named after St Germanus of Auxerre and a commote of Medieval Wales
  • Llanarth, named after the River Arth
  • Llanbister
  • Llanboidy uncertain
  • Llanbradach, name evolved from Nant Bradach
  • Llancarfan, name evolved from Nantcarfan
  • Llancayo
  • (Radnorshire), coch = red
  • Llandarcy, named after William Knox D'Arcy
  • Llanddulas, named after the River Dulas
  • Llandinam
  • Llandovery, a corruption of Llanymddyfri, in English 'Church enclosure amidst the waters'
  • Llandre from Dref `Town`. formerly Llanfihangel Genau'r Glyn.
  • Llandynan
  • , Brecknockshire - llan + eglwys (church)
  • Llanerchaeron, Ceredigion. Mansion estate adjacent to River Aeron
  • Llanfachraeth Fach= Small Raeth= Traeth (Beach)
  • Llanfair-yn-Neubwll Neubwll = Plane, referring to nearby RAF Valley.
  • Llanfaredd From the Fareth- a small stream.
  • Llanfechain
  • Llanfendigaid Estate
  • Llan Ffestiniog
  • Llanfor
  • Llanfynydd, Flintshire Fynydd= Mountain
  • Llanfynydd
  • Llangadwaladr after King Cadwaladr
  • Llangefni, Anglesey, named after River Cefni
  • Llangernyw named after the area of Cernyw
  • Llangoed The village's placename means the 'religious enclosure in the wood' in the Welsh language.
  • Llangoedmor in Ceredigion, originally Llangoedmawr, Great Wood.
  • Llangwm, Conwy Cwm = Valley
  • Llangwm, Pembrokeshire
  • Llangwm, Monmouthshire
  • Llanllibio
  • Llanllyfni, Gwynedd - llan on the River Llyfni
  • Llanmaes
  • Llanmerewig
  • Llanmorlais, name evolved from Glan Morlais
  • Llannor
  • Llannerch-y-medd
  • Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch
  • Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Montgomeryshire - llan + rhaeadr (waterfall) in the cantref of Mochnant
  • Llanrhos, also known as Eglwys Rhos
  • Llanrhyddlad
  • Llanrug (Former name Llanfihangel-y-Rug)
  • Llanuwchllyn, Gwynedd - llan + uwch + llyn (llan above the lake)
  • Llanymawddwy, Gwynedd - llan + yn + Mawddwy (llan in the district of Mawddwy)
  • Llanwnda, Gwynedd
  • Llanwnda, Pembrokeshire named after Garn Wnda burial chamber
  • Llanwrtyd, Llanwrtyd Wells Personal name `Gwrtyd`?
  • Llanycefn cefn= cave
  • Llanychaer (English: church on the Aer, a tributary of the River Gwaun)
  • Llanycil
  • Llanynys Ynys= Island
  • Llanyrafon Afon= River
  • Llanystumdwy, Gwynedd - llan + ystum + Dwy

(llan on the meander of the river Dwy)

Place names in counties bordering Wales[]

Place names in Cornwall[]

Places named after saints[]

  • Lannahevran, St Keverne, Saint Achevran
  • Lannaled, St Germans, Saint Aled
  • Lannanta or Ewni Lananta, Lelant, Saint Anta
  • Lannbrobus, Probus, Saint Probus
  • Lanndege, Old Kea, Saint Kea
  • Lanndewydnek, Landewednack, Saint Gwynnek
  • Lanndhylyk, Landulph, Saint Deloc
  • Lanndoho, St Kew near Wadebridge, Saint Dochou, similar to the Welsh Llandochau
  • Lannentenin, St Anthony in Meneage, Saint Antonius
  • Lannewa, St Ewe, Saint Ewa
  • Lannfyek, Feock, Saint Feoc
  • Lanngostentin, Constantine, Saint Constantine
  • Lannhernow, Lanherne, Saint Hernow
  • , Langunnett, Saint Cyneuit
  • Lanngorrek or Lanngorrow, Crantock, Saint Goroc
  • Lannhydrek, Lanhydrock, Saint Hydrek
  • , Leyowne, Saint John
  • Lannkynhorn or Lanngenhorn, Linkinhorne, Saint Cynhoern
  • Lannlivri, Lanlivery, Saint Lyfri
  • Lannmoren or Lannvorenn, Lamorran, Saint Morenna or Saint Moren
  • Lannoweyn, Cubert, Saint Owein
  • Lannreydhek or Lannreydhow, Lanreath, Saint Reydhek or Saint Reydhow
  • , Laregan and Lariggan
  • Lannrihorn, Ruan Lanihorne, Saint Rihoern
  • Lannsalwys, Lansallos, Saint Salwys
  • Lannseles, Launcells, Saint Seles
  • Lannsiek, St Just in Roseland, Saint Siek
  • Lannstevan, Launceston, Saint Stephen
  • Lannsulyan, Luxulyan, Saint Sulyan
  • Lannudhno, St Erth, Saint Udhno
  • , Laninval
  • Lannust, St Just in Penwith, Saint Just
  • Lannvihal, St Michael Caerhays, Saint Michael
  • Lannvorek, Mevagissey, Saint Morec
  • Lannvowsedh, St Mawes, Saint Maudet
  • Lannwedhenek, Padstow, Saint Guethenoc
  • Lannwenek, Lewannick, Saint Gwenek
  • Lannwolesyk, Lellizzick, Saint Gwledic
  • Lannworon, Goran, Saint Goron
  • Lannystli, Gulval, Saint Ystli

Place names with religious connections other than a saint[]

  • , Clann, enclosure grove
  • , Lambessow, birch tree enclosure
  • Lannbron, Lambourne, hill enclosure
  • Lanndreth, St Blazey, religious enclosure by a beach or ferry
  • Lanneves, Lanivet, sacred grove religious enclosure
  • Lanneyst, Laneast, unknown
  • Lanngordhow, Fowey, religious enclosure of tribes
  • , Lammana, monk's enclosure
  • Lannmanagh, Looe Island, monk's enclosure
  • Lannpenn, Lampen, head enclosure
  • Lannsans, Lezant, holy religious enclosure
  • Lannvab, Mabe, son's enclosure
  • Lannvyhan or Ladnvian, Laddenvean, small religious enclosure
  • Lannwydhek, Mylor, wooded religious enclosure
  • Seghlan, Sellan, dry enclosure

Place names without a religious connection[]

  • , Landrivick, originally Hendrevik (little old farm)
  • , Landue, originally Nansdu (black or dark valley)
  • Landu, Lanjew (Withiel), originally Lendu (black or dark strip field)
  • , Lantewey, originally Nantduwey (valley of the river Dewey)
  • Lannestek, Lanescot, originally Lysnestek (Nestoc's court)
  • , Langarth, originally Lenangath (the cat's strip field)
  • Langover, Langore, originally Nansgover (stream valley)
  • Lanjergh, Lanjeth, originally Nansyergh (roebucks valley)
  • , Lanjew (Kea), originally Nanskiogh (stream valley)
  • , Lancarrow, originally Nanskarrow (stag's valley)
  • , Lanteague, originally Nanslegh (rock slab valley)
  • , Lanlawren, originally Nanslowarn (fox's valley)
  • Lanmelin, Lamellion, originally Nansmelin (mill valley)
  • , Lamellyn, originally Nansmelin (mill valley)
  • Lanmorek, Lamorick, originally Nansmorek (Moroc's valley)
  • Lanmornow, Lamorna, originally Nansmornow (valley of a stream called Morno)
  • , Lanarth, woodland clearing
  • Lannergh, Landrake, woodland clearing
  • , Lannarth, woodland clearing
  • Lannergh, Lanner, woodland clearing
  • Lannergh, Larrick, woodland clearing
  • , Larrick (South Petherwin), woodland clearing
  • Lannergh, Muchlarnick, woodland clearing
  • , Lanseague, originally Nansewigy (hinds valley)
  • Lanteglos, Lanteglos-by-Camelford, originally Nanteglos (church valley)
  • Lanteglos, Lanteglos-by-Fowey, originally Nanteglos (church valley)
  • , Landlooe, originally Nantlogh (valley of the river Looe)
  • , Lantallack, originally Nanstollek (hollowed valley)
  • , Lantivet, originally Nantyvet (cultivated valley)
  • Lantyeyn, Lantyan, originally Nantyeyn (cold valley)
  • Lanyeyn, Lanyon, originally Lynyeyn (cold pool)
  • , Lanyon (Gwinear), named after the Lanyon family from Lynyeyn (cold pool)

Place names in areas bordering Cornwall[]

Place names in Brittany[]

  • Lampaul-Guimiliau (Breton: Lambaol-Gwimilio), Saint Paul
  • Landerneau (Breton: Landerne), Saint Ténénan
  • Langolen (Breton: Langolen), Saint Collen
  • Landeleau (Breton: Landelo), Saint Teilo
  • Landoac (Breton: Landoac), Saint Doac
  • Lanildut (Breton: Lannildud), Illtud
  • Lannédern (Breton: Lannedern), Saint Edern
  • Landévennec (Breton: Landevenneg), Winwaloe
  • Landivisiau (Breton: Landivizio),
  • Landudal (Breton: Landudal), Tudwal
  • Lanhouarneau (Breton: Lanhouarne), Saint Hervé
  • Landévant (Breton: Landevant), Saint Tevant
  • Landudec (Breton: Landudeg), Saint Tadec
  • Landunvez (Breton: Landunvez), Sainte Tunvez
  • Langoëlan (Breton: Lanwelan), Saint Gouelan
  • Languidic (Breton: Langedig), Saint Cynedd
  • Landéda (Breton: Landeda), Saint Tédia or Saint Tydeu
  • Landujan (Breton: Landujan), Saint Tudin (Tudwal)
  • Langast (Breton: Lanwal), Saint Gal
  • Langourla (Breton: Langourlae), Saint Gourlae
  • Langrolay-sur-Rance (Breton: Langorlae), Saint Gourlae
  • Languenan (Breton: Langenan), Saint Kenan
  • Langonnet (Breton: Langoned), Saint Konoed (Saint Cynwyd)
  • Lanmodez (Breton: Lanvaodez), Saint Maudez
  • Landrévarzec (Breton: Landrevarzeg), Saint Harzheg
  • Lanarvily (Breton: Lannarvili), Saint Haeruili
  • Lanvénégen (Breton: Lannejenn), Saint Menegean
  • Lanvollon (Breton: Lannolon), Saint Volon
  • Landaul (Breton: Landaol), (Perhaps Saint Teilo)
  • Landébia (Breton: Landebiav), Saint Tebiav
  • Lannéanou (Breton: Lanneanoù), Saint Leanou
  • La Harmoye (Breton: Lanhervoed), Saint Harmoël
  • La Landec (Breton: Lannandeg), Saint Deg
  • Landéhen (Breton: Landehen), Saint Guéhen
  • La Méaugon (Breton: Lanvealgon), Saint Algon
  • Lancieux (Breton: Lanseeg), Saint Séoc (or Sieu)
  • Langueux (Breton: Langaeg), Saint Guéthénoc
  • Lanhélin (Breton: Lanhelen), Saint Helen
  • Laniscat (Breton: Lanniskad), Saint Escat
  • Lanneuffret (Breton: Lanneured), Saint Gwévret
  • Saint-Urbain (Breton: Lannurvan), Saint Urvan
  • Lannion (Breton: Lannuon)
  • Landebaëron (Breton: Landebaeron)
  • La Malhoure (Breton: Lanvelor)
  • La Nouaye (Breton: Lanwaz)
  • Lanrigan (Breton: Lanrigan), Saint Rigan
  • Lanrivoaré (Breton: Lanriware), Saint Riware
  • La Vraie-Croix (Breton: Langroez)
  • Lanfains (Breton: Lanfeun), Lanfains' name comes from the Breton language « lann » (hermitage) and, it seems, from the Latin « fanum » (temple). Lanfains was situated at the border of the Gallo and Breton languages.
  • Langan, Ille-et-Vilaine (Breton: Langan)
  • Langon (Breton: Landegon)
  • Languédias (Breton: Langadiarn), Saint Catihern
  • Lanmérin (Breton: Lanvilin), Saint Mérin (Sant Vilin in Breton)
  • Lannebert (Breton: Lannebeur), Saint Eber
  • Lanvellec (Breton: Lanvaeleg), Saint Maeleg
  • Lanvéoc (Breton: Lañveog), Saint Maeoc
  • Laurenan (Breton: Lanreunan), Saint Ronan

Place names in Cumbria[]

The Cumbric language was spoken in Cumbria and elsewhere in The Old North up until the Early Middle Ages and as such, some place names in Cumbria and surrounding counties have a Brythonic origin.

  • Ketland. The first element is possibly equivalent to Welsh coed, "forest, wood".[11]
  • Lambert Ladd. Compare Lampert below.[11]
  • Lamplugh. The second element '-plugh' has been explained as equivalent to Welsh plwyf "parish",[12] or blwch "bare".[11]

The historic name Llan Lleenawc may have been in this region, and named for either Laenauc, a father of Guallauc, or *Lennóc, a saint-name.[11]

Place-names in areas bordering Cumbria[]

  • Lampert, Northumberland, also spelt Lampart. The second element has been explained as an equivalent of Welsh perth, "hedge, thicket".[11]

In addition, *landā-, the earlier Brittonic word ancestral to llan occurs in Vindolanda, the name of a Roman-era fort.[11]

Place names in Scotland[]

Some place names in Scotland have Pictish and Cumbric elements such as aber- and lhan- (also spelled lum-, lon- and lin-) that are cognate with those in other Brittonic languages. The Gaelic form lann ("enclosure, churchyard") also occurs, and its existence in Pictland may represent adoption into Gaelic of the Pictish usage.[13]

Places named after saints[]

  • Lhanbryde, Moray (Gaelic: Lann Brìghde). Saint Bride. Lamanbride in 1215; the modern Welsh-like spelling is probably a 19th-century innovation)[citation needed]
  • Lumphanan, Aberdeenshire (Gaelic: Lann Fhìonain), .
  • Lumphinnans Fife. Its etymology is identical to Lumphinnans above, with which it shares a Gaelic name.

Places with other religious connections[]

  • Landis, Kirkcudbrightshire. Uncertain; may be of Scots origin.[11]
  • Lincluden, Kirkcudbrightshire. The location of an abbey. The second part of the name refers to the nearby .[11] The first part could also be lïnn, "pool".[11][14]
  • Lindores, Fife (Gaelic: Lann Doras). An abbey is located here. The name may mean "church at the pass".[15]
  • Longannet, Fife (Gaelic: Lann na H-Annaide). Occupied by a now-decommissioned power station. The name probably meant "former church enclosure".[16]

Places with no known religious connections[]

  • Conland, Fife. Possibly meaning "dog-enclosure" (G conlann, W cwnllan) or "grouping of enclosures" (G cu-lann).[15]
  • Drumdratland, Fife. Exact etymology unclear, but the firs element is likely druim, "a ridge".[15]
  • Falkland, Fife. The first element in the name is unclear.[15]
  • Lumquhat, Fife. The name may mean "enclosure of the wild-cats".[15]
  • Lynchat, Inverness-shire. Meaning "wildcat's enclosure".[1]
  • Pentland, Midlothian. The first element may be pen ("head", "top") or pant ("hollow").[11]
  • Pouterlampert, near Castleton, Scottish Borders.[11] The -lampert part of the name may share an etymology with the aforementioned Lampart in Northumberland.[11] The first part of the name is *polter, an obscure[11] Brittonic suffix.

In fiction[]

  • The long running American soap opera One Life to Live is set in fictional Llanview, Pennsylvania, set just outside the city of Philadelphia. In the fictional universe of the soap, Llanview is the county seat for Llantano County. An important historical estate, Llanfair, is also set in Llanview.

See also[]

  • Welsh placenames
  • List of Celtic place names in Galicia

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Watson, W.J.; Taylor, Simon (2011). The Celtic Place-Names of Scotland (reprint ed.). Birlinn LTD. p. 387. ISBN 9781906566357.
  2. ^ A number of placenames now beginning with llan owe their present form to confusion, having originated as glan ("river bank") or nant ("stream, hollow"). An example is Llanbradach, which was originally Nant Bradach ("Valley of the Bradach"). An example in Cornish is Lanteglos, from an original Nanseglos ("Church Valley").
  3. ^ Oxford English Dictionary, 1st ed. "land, n.¹". Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1901.
  4. ^ Oxford English Dictionary, 1st ed. "laund, n." Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1902.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Baring-Gould, Sabine. The Lives of the Saints, Vol. 16, "The Celtic Church and its Saints", p. 67. Longmans, Green, & Co. (New York), 1898.
  6. ^ Baring-Gould, p. 40.
  7. ^ Baring-Gould, p. 33.
  8. ^ Baring-Gould, p. 92.
  9. ^ Baring-Gould, pp. 37–38.
  10. ^ "GO BRITANNIA! Wales: Sacred Places - Llandaff (Thlan daff) Cathedral". Britannia.com. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m James, Alan. "A Guide to the Place-Name Evidence" (PDF). SPNS - The Brittonic Language in the Old North. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  12. ^ "Lamplugh". Whitehaven and Western Lakeland. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  13. ^ James, Alan G. "A Guide to the Place-Name Evidence - Guide to the Elements" (PDF). Scottish Place Name Society - The Brittonic Language in the Old North. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  14. ^ Johnston, James B (1892). Place-names of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland: D Douglas. p. 162.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Simon, Taylor; Markus, Gilbert (2006). The Place-names of Fife (Illustrated ed.). Shaun Tyas. ISBN 9781900289771.
  16. ^ "Longannet Point - Tulliallan, Fife - Places of Worship in Scotland | SCHR".

External links[]

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