Welsh Genealogical Terms (part 2 ) F - L

The second post that give the genealogical terms recorded in Dwnn, Vol. I, p.xxxii :

Ganedig, anedig = Born.

Gorvuchedd = Surviving.

Gwr, wr = Husband

Gwraig, wraig = Wife

Gwr bonheddig = Gentleman

Heb briodi = Unmarried

Hen = Senior

Hen dad = Grandfather

Hen vam = Grandmother

Iarll = Earl

Iarlles = Countess

Ior = Lord

This edition was published in Wales in 2005 by Bridge Books, Wrexham.

Welsh Genealogical Terms (part 1) A - E

Samuel Rush Meyrick states in his text of Dwnn:

"For the benefit of the English reader, large portions of Welsh have been followed by translations, and in the notes to the text the meanings of several words and phrases have been given; but, as a futrther assistance, the following with their mutations are added under this title."

The "title" is "Glossary".   Since Dwnn is not widely available to most genealogist, I thought it might be helpful to list the terms as translated by Meyrick on p. xxxii, Vol. I, Dwnn.  They are listed in alphabetical order in the text.  Part 1 will list those words beginning with A - E.

      Aeressau, pl. = Heiresses.

      Anweddawg = Unmarried.

      Arglwydd = Lord.

      Bach, bychan, vach, vychan = Junior, little.

      Barwn = Baron.

      Brawd, vrawd = Brother.

      Bedyddiedig = Baptized

      Cevnderw, fem. cyvnitherw = Cousin.

      Chwaer = Sister.

      Dwc = Duke.

      Etivedd = Heir.

      Ewythr = Uncle.

The title page from this monumental text (Dwnn) is shown below.

The Townlands (part 4)

The text goes on to read (by Jenkins translation):

"It is right for the two townlands to be for the king's waste and shielding-land for him.  And as much as all we said above in the other commote, and that makes a total of five score townlands, and that is properly the cantred.  It is right for ten times ten to be in a hundred and counting does not go beyond ten."

By now it should be very confusing with all the terms and measurements.  A score is defined as a group of 20 things.  Five score would be (5 x 20) 100 townlands.  The "ten times ten" would also equal 100.  So "five score townlands" (100) is properly the "cantred".

In the last post it was recorded that there were "twelve maenolydd and two townlands in every commote". [Remember that there were "four townlands in every maenol". ]  Thus, "twelve maenolydd" would also equal 48 townlands.  Therefore, a single commote would be 48 townlands for family use, and two townlands set aside for the king's use.    Two "commonte" were to be in every "cantred".   This makes the "five score townlands" that is properly the cantre.  Whew...can you dig it?  They certainly did!