Welsh Tribes

A number of recent posts presented the Royal Tribes of Wales [I-V] as recorded in Burke 1840 edition.  The following table presents the "Royal"  and "Noble" tribes as they are geographically distributed among the lands of Wales.  It also list the individual who is given as the founder of each tribe.

This table was completed from my research accomplished before 1992, and published in "The Jones Genealogist" a family newsletter started in 1989.  These tribes and their geographic location would be a foundation to the genetic haplotypes found among the mountains.

Royal Tribes of Wales (V.)

As given in Burke, the fifth Royal Tribe of Wales is as follows:

                   Jestyn ap Gwrgant, Tributary Prince of Glamorgan, Founder of the V. Royal Tribe

                                               Gu. three chevronels ar.

This would be a red shield with three pyramid shaped set of parallel lines starting from the bottom right and left of the shield, meeting in the center at equal distance.

The Chevron is thought to have been adopted from the bow of a war saddle, which rose high in front. [Burke, p. xxxi]

The reference is : Burke, B.B., The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales; A Registry of Armorial Bearings From The Earliest To The Present Time.  Harrison, 59, Pall Mall, 1884. p. lxii.

                                                  

Royal Tribes of Wales (III.)

The founder of the III. Royal Tribe of Wales is listed as Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, King of Powys, A.D. 1046.  In Burke he is given as "...derived from Mervyn, King of Powys, third son of Rhodri Mawr".  The arms are given:

                                                               "Ar. a lion ramp. sa"

This again is a lion standing erect on the hind legs which would be silver in color.  The shield would be black in color.

Meredith ap Bleddyn (son of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn) is given as "Prince of Powys".

Madoc, a son of Meredith ap Bleddyn, is given as "Prince of Powys-Fadog".

From: Burke, p. lxii, 1884 edition.

Royal Tribes of Wales (II.)

The sons of Rhodri Mawr continue their Y-chromosome into South Wales.  Rhys ap Twedwr Mawr, King of South Wales A.D. 1077, is given in Burke as being derived from Cadelh, King of South Wales.  This Cadelh is given as the second son of Rhodri Mawr. [Descent from first son given last post.]

Rhys ap Tewdwr is given as the "Founder of the II. Royal Tribe".  The arms are given:

                                     "Gu. a lion ramp. within a bordure indented or."

     This would be that the color of the shield is red [ Gu. = Gules = red].

     The charge [ordinaries] is a lion standing erect on the hind legs.

     The boarder of the shield would be colored gold with its inter margins being jagged or irregular.

From: The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales; Comprising A Registry of Armorial Bearings From The Earliest To The Present Time. By Bernard Burke, published 1884, by Harrison, 59, Pall Mall, London.  [p. lxi]

A good reference for South Wales is:

By Ruth Thomas, it was first published in 1977 by John Bartholomew & Son Limited, Edinburgh.

Royal Tribes of Wales (I)

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