Tribal groups were associated with geographic areas in Wales. This was primarily due to the geological status of mountains, rivers, valleys, and the settlement pattern of family groups. In Burke [1884 edition] there are recorded "Royal Tribes of Wales" divided by the major areas "North Wales" and "South Wales". The next several post will present these tribes as identified.
North Wales:
"Griffith ap Cynan, King of North Wales, A.D. 1079, derived from Anarawd, King of North Wales, eldest son of Rhodri Mawr, King of Wales, A.D. 843; founder of the I. Royal Tribe."
The arms are described: "Gu. three lions pass. in pale ar armed az."
Gu. = red [color of shield] : three lions pass. [full body lions standing on feet]
in pale ar [formed by two lines drawn perpendicularly from the top to bottom of the shield comprising a third of the field, in this case it would be colored silver and the three lions would be placed equal distance from the top to bottom in the middle of the sheild]
armed az = the claws of the lions would be colored blue
