Gwynedd

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The place-name 'Gwynedd'

Gwynedd appears to have an Irish origin. After the Roman occupation of Britain, many Irish people settled in north-west Wales. A memorial stone in Penmachno which was inscribed in the late 5th century refers to Venedotis. The place-name was recorded as Venedotiam in 1194 and Gweneth in 1232-33.

It’s thought that Venedotis has the same root as Féni, the name of a tribe which had moved directly to Ireland from mainland Europe (without settling in Great Britain first).

The extent of Gwynedd has varied greatly over the centuries. Since 1996 it has comprised the former counties of Meirionnydd and Caernarfonshire, minus the section of Caernarfonshire which forms the western part of Conwy county.

Gwynedd was once one of the most powerful Welsh kingdoms. By the 12th century it included most of present-day Denbighshire and Flintshire, as well as Gwynedd and Anglesey.

With thanks to Prof Hywel Wyn Owen, of the Welsh Place-Name Society

 

Yr enw lle 'Gwynedd'

Ymddengys fod Gwynedd o darddiad Gwyddelig. Ar ôl goresgyniad y Rhufeiniaid ym Mhrydain, ymsefydlodd llawer o Wyddelod yng ngogledd-orllewin Cymru. Mae carreg goffa ym Mhenmachno a gafodd ei harysgrifio ar ddiwedd y bumed ganrif yn cyfeirio at Venedotis. Cofnodwyd yr enw fel Venedotiam yn 1194 a Gweneth yn 1232-33.

Credir bod gan Venedotis yr un gwraidd â Féni, enw llwyth a oedd wedi symud yn uniongyrchol i Iwerddon o dir mawr Ewrop (heb ymgartrefu ym Mhrydain Fawr yn gyntaf).

Mae maint Gwynedd wedi amrywio'n fawr dros y canrifoedd. Ers 1996 mae wedi cynnwys hen siroedd Meirionnydd a Chaernarfon, ond heb yr adran o Sir Gaernarfon sy'n ffurfio rhan orllewinol Sir Gonwy. Ar un adeg roedd Gwynedd yn un o deyrnasoedd mwyaf pwerus Cymru, ac erbyn y 12fed ganrif roedd yn cynnwys y rhan fwyaf o siroedd Dinbych a Fflint heddiw, yn ogystal â Gwynedd a Môn.

Gyda diolch i'r Athro Hywel Wyn Owen, o Gymdeithas Enwau Lleoedd Cymru