Llan (placename)
This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) |
Llan (Welsh pronunciation: [ɬan]) and its variants (Breton: lan; Cornish: lann; Pictish: lhan) are a common placename element in Brythonic languages. In modern orthography, it is treated as a prefix, but was formerly sometimes written as a separate word. The (often mutated) name of the relevant saint or location[1] 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.[2][3] 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 (but not always) the founding saints of the parish,[4] relatives of the ruling families who invaded Wales during the early Middle Ages.[5] 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.[4] The typical llan employed or erected a circular or oval embankment with a protective stockade, surrounded by wood or stone huts.[6] Unlike Saxon practice, these establishments were not chapels for the local lords but almost separate tribes, initially some distance away from the secular community.[7] 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.[8]
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.
Contents
Place names in Wales[edit]
Places named after saints[edit]
(All pages beginning with "Llan")
- Llanarmon-yn-Iâl, Denbighshire, Saint Garmon or St. Germanus of Auxerre
- Llanbadarn Fawr, Saint Padarn
- Llanbadrig, Saint Patrick
- Llanbedr, Saint Peter
- Llanberis, Saint Peris
- Llandegla, Saint Tecla
- Llanddarog, Saint Twrog
- Llanddeusant, Anglesey, two saints: Saint Marcellus and Saint Marcellina
- Llanddeusant, Carmarthenshire, two saints: Saint David and Saint Teilo
- Llandeilo, Saint Teilo
- Llandewi, Saint David
- Llandudno, Saint Tudno
- Llandybie, Saint Tybie
- Llandyssil, Saint Tyssil
- Llanedi, Saint Edith
- Llanegwad, Saint Egwad
- Llanellen, Saint Helen
- Llanelli, Saint Elli
- Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Saint Mary and Saint Tysilio
- Llanfoist, Saint Fwyst
- Llanfynydd, Mountain Church
- Llangadog, Saint Cadoc
- Llangain, Saint Cain
- Llangathen, Saint Cathan
- Llangeler, Saint Celert
- Llangelynnin, Saint Celynin
- Llangennech, Saint Cennych
- Llangennith, Saint Cenydd
- Llangollen, Saint Collen
- Llangolman, Saint Colman
- Llangrannog, Saint Caranog or Carantoc
- Llangunnor, Saint Cynnwr
- Llangyfelach, Saint Cyfelach
- Llangyndeyrn, Saint Cyndeyrn
- Llangynllo, Saint Cynllo
- Llangynog, Saint Cynog
- Llangynwyd, Saint Cynwyd
- Llanharan, Saint Aaron
- Llanidloes, Saint Idloes
- Llanilar, Saint Hilary
- Llanismel, Saint Ismael
- Llanllawddog, Saint Llawddog
- Llanmadoc, Saint Madoc
- Llanmartin, Saint Martin
- Llanishen (Llanisien), Saint Isan
- Llannon, Saint Non
- Llanpumsaint, five saints: Gwyn, Gwynno, Gwynoro, Ceithio and Celynin
- Llanrhidian, Saint Rhidian
- Llanrwst, Saint Grwst
- Llansadwrn, Saint Sadwrn
- Llansamlet, Saint Samlet
- Llansawel, Saint Sawell
- Llanstephan, Saint Stephen
- Llantrisant, three saints: Illtud, Gwynno and Dyfodwg
- Llanwenog, Saint Gwenog
- Llanwrda, Saint Cwrda
Place names with religious connections other than a saint[edit]
- Llandaff, named after the River Taff[9]
- Llandrindod, named after the Trinity (Welsh: y Drindod)
- Llanfachraeth, Church of the little beach
- Llanfaes, 'Church of the Field' from llan + maes (field)
- Llangefni, named after the River Cefni (Previously known as Llangyngar, after Saint Cyngar)
Place names without a religious connection[edit]
- Llan, Montgomeryshire
- Llanbradach, name evolved from Nant Bradach
- Llancarfan, name evolved from Nantcarfan
- Llandarcy, named after William Knox D'Arcy
- Llandovery, a corruption of Llanymddyfri, in English 'Church enclosure amidst the waters'
- Llaneglwys, Brecknockshire - llan + eglwys (church)
- Llangoedmor in Ceredigion, originally Llangoedmawr, Great Wood.
- Llanllyfni, Gwynedd - llan on the River Llyfni
- Llanmorlais, name evolved from Glan Morlais
- Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Montgomeryshire - llan + rhaeadr (waterfall) in the cantref of Mochnant
- Llanuwchllyn, Gwynedd - llan + uwch + llyn (llan above the lake)
- Llanymawddwy, Gwynedd - llan + yn + Mawddwy (llan in the district of Mawddwy)
Place names in counties bordering Wales[edit]
- Lancaut (Welsh: Llan Cewydd), Gloucestershire
- Llancillo, Herefordshire
- Landican (Birkenhead, Merseyside), Saint Tegan
- Llandinabo, Herefordshire
- Llanfair Waterdine, Shropshire
- Llangarron, Herefordshire
- Llanrothal, Herefordshire
- Llanveynoe, Herefordshire
- Llanwarne, Herefordshire
- Llanymynech, Shropshire
- Llanyblodwel, Shropshire
Place names in Cornwall[edit]
Places named after saints[edit]
- 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
- Lanngenewyt, Langunnett, Saint Cyneuit
- Lanngorrek or Lanngorrow, Crantock, Saint Goroc
- Lannhydrek, Lanhydrock, Saint Hydrek
- Lannjowan, 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
- Lannrigon, 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
- Lannunwal, 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[edit]
- Kellilann, Clann, enclosure grove
- Lannbesow, 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
- Lannmanagh, 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[edit]
- Landrevik, Landrivick, originally Hendrevik (little old farm)
- Landu, Landue, originally Nansdu (black or dark valley)
- Landu, Lanjew (Withiel), originally Lendu (black or dark strip field)
- Landuwy, Lantewey, originally Nantduwey (valley of the river Dewey)
- Lannestek, Lanescot, originally Lysnestek (Nestoc's court)
- Langarth, Langarth, originally Lenangath (the cat's strip field)
- Langover, Langore, originally Nansgover (stream valley)
- Lanjergh, Lanjeth, originally Nansyergh (roebucks valley)
- Lanjiogh, Lanjew (Kea), originally Nanskiogh (stream valley)
- Lankarrow, Lancarrow, originally Nanskarrow (stag's valley)
- Lanlegh, Lanteague, originally Nanslegh (rock slab valley)
- Lanlowarn, Lanlawren, originally Nanslowarn (fox's valley)
- Lanmelin, Lamellion, originally Nansmelin (mill valley)
- Lanmelin, Lamellyn, originally Nansmelin (mill valley)
- Lanmorek, Lamorick, originally Nansmorek (Moroc's valley)
- Lanmornow, Lamorna, originally Nansmornow (valley of a stream called Morno)
- Lannergh, Lanarth, woodland clearing
- Lannergh, Landrake, woodland clearing
- Lannergh, Lannarth, woodland clearing
- Lannergh, Lanner, woodland clearing
- Lannergh, Larrick, woodland clearing
- Lannergh, Larrick (South Petherwin), woodland clearing
- Lannergh, Muchlarnick, woodland clearing
- Lansewigy, Lanseague, originally Nansewigy (hinds valley)
- Lanteglos, Lanteglos-by-Camelford, originally Nanteglos (church valley)
- Lanteglos, Lanteglos-by-Fowey, originally Nanteglos (church valley)
- Lantlogh, Landlooe, originally Nantlogh (valley of the river Looe)
- Lantollek, Lantallack, originally Nanstollek (hollowed valley)
- Lantyvet, Lantivet, originally Nantyvet (cultivated valley)
- Lantyeyn, Lantyan, originally Nantyeyn (cold valley)
- Lanyeyn, Lanyon, originally Lynyeyn (cold pool)
- Lanyeyn, Lanyon (Gwinear), named after the Lanyon family from Lynyeyn (cold pool)
Place names in areas bordering Cornwall[edit]
- Landkey (near Barnstaple, Devon), Saint Kea
Place names in Brittany[edit]
- 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), Saint Gwisiau
- 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[edit]
The Cumbric language was spoken in Cumbria up to the Early Middle Ages, and so some place names in Cumbria have a Celtic origin.
- Lamplugh (Cumbria), Saint Moloch (the second element -plugh has also been explained as equivalent to Welsh plwyf 'parish' or blwch 'bare')
- Lanercost Priory (Cumbria). The name "Lanercost" is derived from Llanerch, a British or Gaelic word meaning an open space in a wood.[10]
Place names in Scotland[edit]
Some place names in Scotland have Pictish elements such as Aber and Lhan that are cognate with other Brythonic languages such as Welsh.
- Lhanbryde (Gaelic: Lann Brìghde), Saint Bride (the place name is first recorded as Lamanbride in 1215, and the modern Welsh-like spelling is probably a 19th-century innovation)
In fiction[edit]
- 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[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ 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").
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary, 1st ed. "land, n.¹". Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1901.
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary, 1st ed. "laund, n." Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1902.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Baring-Gould, p. 40.
- ^ Baring-Gould, p. 33.
- ^ Baring-Gould, p. 92.
- ^ Baring-Gould, pp. 37–38.
- ^ "GO BRITANNIA! Wales: Sacred Places - Llandaff (Thlan daff) Cathedral". Britannia.com. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
- ^ http://www.lanercostpriory.org.uk/history/foundation.html