A First

History books are written by those who feel they have something important to record about the events that have surrounded them.  For Wales [written by the Welsh], the earliest history book is titled "Annnales Cambriae" which begins Welsh history in the year 447 AD.   However, it was in another history book that the word "Welsh" first appears.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle it is called, and the word "Britons" is used to refer to the folks on the island before 456 AD.  In 465 AD it records:

"Hengest and Aesc fought the Welsh near Wippedesfleot and killed twelve Welsh ealdormen.  One of their own thanes was killed there, whose name was Wipped."

After this date, the word "Welsh" and "Britons" are both used in the context of these chronicles.

Note: in 540 AD Gildas wrote "De Exidio Brittaniae", and "The Chronicle of Ystrad Fflur" begins their history of Wales at 49 AD.  As best as I can tell, 465 AD is the first time the word "Welsh" is used in the English language. [Actually Anglo-Saxon.]

For those who might like to read things for themselves, the book shown above [translated and collated by Anne Savage] is an excellent reference.  Published by Crescent Books, NY in 1995.

A Companion

Genealogy opens many doors to the past generations of our family.  Many of these generations experienced events and struggles that are, at times, difficult to understand or appreciate.  Seeking answers to the questions regarding the period of life that our ancestors experienced can often be found in the literature of the time.   For Welsh history, the following "companion" is recommended.

Edited by Meic Stephens, with over 150 contributors, it represents a treasure trove of information regarding the mind of Wales and its culture.  The topics are arranged alphabetically and span the scope of Welsh expression.   Eminent and obscure are included including as the editors states:

"...a substantial number of saints, kings, princes, gentry, patrons, philanthropists, martyrs, patriots, landowners, villains, soldiers, preachers, reformers, industrialists, politicians, publishers, painters, musicians, sportsmen and eccentrics - a motley company who share with our writers an undeniable place in the Welsh heritage."  [editor's preface, p. vi ]

First published in 1986 as The Oxford Companion to the Literature of Wales by Oxford University Press, it was reprinted in 1986, and now this edition by the University of Wales in 1998.

There is a brief discussion on the pronunciation of Welsh which is always helpful for those of us across the great pond.  Containing 841 pages, it is not intended to be read "cover to cover"  but to serve as a
reference to help identify and understand many aspects of Welsh culture. 

It ends in a chronology of Welsh history beginning with the Roman conquest [43 AD]  to the first elections for the National Assembly of Wales in 1999.  What a deal!  My kind of book.  You may find it helpful also.

Skipping Rocks

Understanding the historical context often helps the genealogist uncover a variety of factors associated with the family tree.  These factors may provide hints as to the direction ones tree climbing will take.
For those of Welsh descent, this context is frequently framed by war.

The book by Philip Warner outlines a span of some three thousand years.  From prehistoric times to the battle of Fishguard ( 22 Feb. 1797) the topic is organized by a major theme.  "The Battles against the Romans", "The Battles against the Normans", and "The Battles of the Civil War" are just a few of the chapter headings.  Ordnance Survey maps allow for battle site identification.

For me the most helpful was a list of Welsh at the battle of Agincourt. (Appendix 6, pp. 147 - 149)

It is like skipping rocks in a historical pond of Welsh history.  Come skip a few.

The book was published by Barnes & Noble, Inc., 1977, and again in 1997. 

ICE CAPADES

Human existence on the stage of mankind has depended upon many factors. On our little part of the world, a major factor was an "ice curtain" that rose and fell over time. Ice Ages they are called, but they could be viewed as the ice curtain that rose and fell upon the stage of mankind's existence.

At least eight major warm-cold cycles are felt to have occurred. (1) The most severe curtain fall was felt to extend all the way down to the Alps. Moving up and down the continent of Europe leaving its geological trail, it appears to have risen to the shores of Wales at least by 25,000 BC. The drawing to the right is my attempt to shown the human evidence which has been discovered.

Goat's Cave (Paviland) appears to be the remains of the earliest human occupation of the coastline of Wales. Buried some 16,000 years ago are the bones of a young man covered in red. (2) Animal bones have been dated to around 25,000 BC, documenting the fact that life came to occupy this cave at a very early period. (3) By 15,000 BC the ice curtain had lifted to above the river Clwyd since human remains have been found in caves noted on the drawing. [Cefn-Yr-Ogof, Ffynnen Beuno, and Bonthewydd ] (3) The curtain must have fallen again to the coast line of Europe since the land bridge that connected the island is felt to have disappeared around 6,000 BC. By 5,700 BC folks seem to have lived again on the stage of north Wales in the area around Brenic (3). Dinas Bran in the valley of the Dee shows occupation during the Bronze Age [ 2,500 - 2,000 BC] (3). All these acts occurred before Old Oswestry which waited until the need for fortified hill forts of the iron age starting around 800 BC. Certainly, the Ice Capades have been preforming for years!

These actors provided outstanding performances. Shakespeare would have been proud.

(1) Hadingham, E., Secrets of The Ice Age, A Reappraisal of Prehistoric Man, John Wiley & Sons, Ontario, Canada, 1979. pp. 17-23.

(2) Mackenzie, D.A., Ancient Man In Britain, Blackie & Son, London, 1922. pp. 19-22.

(3) Dyer, J., Prehistoric England and Wales, Penguin Books, New York, 1982. pp.321-328.

Paramount

Paramount to medieval Welsh culture was the "cenedl"...the kindred. In medieval Wales this was important for social stability and cultural survival. Inheritance of land and compensation for injury was accounted through the kindred. Surrounding the "cenedl" was the land occupied and claimed by the family. All families needed houses, and the plot of land carrying a house (ty) was called a "toft". Essentially the word implies land that was enclosed, thus giving rise to a settlement involving animals and gardens. Food production became the essential activity, and the land and homestead became the "tref".

Previous posts defined the "legal acre", which helped set boundaries and locations for plowing and feeding animals. Welsh law defined that four such acres would be in a "toft". The kindred shared land, and four "tofts" were to be in every "shareland". Thus, four related families might share around 16 acres. Now, four "sharelands" would be consided a "holding". This would mean that roughly 16 families would occupy and share 64 "legal acres" of land. Perhaps 32-40 family members.

Four "holdings" would become a "townland". Not in the same sense as we know towns today, but a group of rural families having an identity. Thus, 256 acres would organize a kindred into a recognizable unit.

Four "townlands" would provide a population needing political and judicial activity, recognizing that so many folks would come to disagreement. This was known as the "maenol" (manor), and became the center of legal activities. [The name "mayor" comes from this organization.] Now you can imagine the complexity as the number of family members grew. So roughly there was 1024 acres in every "maenol". [Remember today that 1 square mile contains 640 acres, so this would be around 1.5 to 2 square miles.]

Now 12 "maenols" (Maenolydd) would make up a "commote". This became the smallest social unit of administration for the multiple family groups that came to occupy the land. This would roughly be 12, 800 acres of land. [About 20 square miles.] This would be like a "county" in one of the states. Two "commotes" became a "cantred" (canfref). The "candred" identified as tribal land. Thus a tribe would be seen as a group of "kindred" occupying an area of land which acted together for peace and war. They were responsible for handling all criminal and civil issues occurring within their "cantref".

So let's review.

4 legal acres in every toft (farm with a house),
16 legal acres in every shareland (4 tofts = 4 farmsteads working together),
64 legal acres in every holding (4 sharelands),
256 legal acres in every townland (4 holdings),
1024 legal acres in every maenol (4 townlands),
12,800 legal acres in a commonte (12 maenols),
two commotes in the canfred. (English verson of Welsh Word is cantref.)

Wow, just think this all started with a kernel of barleycorn!

Information abstracted from Hywel Dda The Law, Law Texts From Medieval Wales, Translated and Edited by Dafydd Jenkins, Gomer Press, 1990.

The Legal Acre

Farming with a plow in the early days certainly had its troubles. When settlements got to the size that several families shared the land, who was suppose to know what could be planted, were to raise the chickens, were to graze the cattle, slop the pigs, and herd the sheep? Exactly how much land was needed to feed my family?

The farmers of the day came up with a system known as "the legal acre". This was based upon the barleycorn measurements outlined in the last post titled: "Leaps and Bounds". Remember that 3 lengths of the barleycorn defined the "inch". Three inches made a "palmbreath", and 3 palmbreaths made the "foot". The yoke became the next unit of measurement seeing how every farmer had his plow and yoke.

There was 4 feet in the short yoke, 8 feet in the mid-yoke, 12 feet in the armpit yoke, and 16 feet in the long yoke. A "rod" was defined as the long yoke (16 feet) in the caller's hand [the one doing the plowing] with the middle peg of that yoke in his other hand, and as far as he reaches with it with his arm stretch out. This method would set the measurement of the legal acre. The width would be one rod, and the length would be 30 times the rod. Thus, the legal acre was 16 ft. wide by 480 ft. long. [7,680 sq. feet] There was to be 4 such acres in the "toft" (homestead). So there you have it. A family (homestead) had roughly 4 legal acres to make a living. You could plow long rows before you had to turn around!

The measurements are taken from: "Hywel Dda The Law", translated and edited by Dafydd Jenkins, Gomer Press, 1990, p. 121.

Invaluable

Invaluable is the work done by those who have gone before. Professor Emeritus, Wendy Davies has lead the way in exploring and understanding Welsh history, society, and culture from its earliest days. Dr. Davies (Phd) had done much to piece together what made Wales. The following is an outline of her work which reflects her contribution to Welsh history and genealogy. Her book "Wales in the Early Middle Ages" (Leicester University Press, 1982) gives a very readable account of early Welsh social structure. Her work does much to help those explore and understanding Welsh genealogy.

1. Davies, W., 'The Consecration of Bishops of Llandaff in the Tenth and Eleventh Centuries', Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies 26 (1974-6) 53-73.

2. Davies, Wendy, An Early Welsh Microcosm: Studies in the Llandaff Charters (London 1978).

3. Davies, W. 'Land and Power in Early Medieval Wales', Past and Present 81 (1978) 3-23.

4. Davies, W. 'The Latin Charter Tradition in Western Britain, Brittany and Ireland in the Early Mediaeval Periond', in Ireland in Early Mediaeval Europe Studies in Memory of Kathleen Hughes, edd. D. Whitelock et al. (Cambridge 1982) pp. 258-80.

5. Davies, W. 'Liber Landavensis'': its Constructions and Credibility', English Historical Review 88 (1973) 335-351.

6. Davies, Wendy 'The Landaff Charters (Aberystwyth 1979).

7. Davies, W. 'St. Mary's, Worcester, and the Liber Landavensis" Journal of the Society of Archivists 4 (1970-3) 459-489.

8. Davies, W. 'The Orthography of Personal Names in the Charters of Liber Landavensis', Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies, 28 (1978-80) 553-557.

9. Davies, W. 'Unciae: Land Measurement in the Liber Landavensis' Agricultural History Review 21 (1973) 111-121.

10. Davies, Wendy, Wales in the Early Middle Ages (Leicester 1982).

Thanks, Dr. Davies.

Early Welsh Documents (Part VI)

Part six of a series of post that deal with the early documents of Wales. Taken from the text published in 1856 by Richard Sims titled: "A Manual For The Genealogist, Topographer, Antiquary, and Legal Professor".

"List of Lords Presidents of the Marches of Wales; Brit. Mus. Harl. MS. 368, f.181; Add. MS. 5485, f.210".

"List of Deputy Lieutenants and Commission Officers in England and Wales, as they were brought into the House of Peers, in Nov. 1680; All Souls' Coll. Oxf. MS. ccxxiii, f.1."

"List of Chamberlains and Justiciaries of North Wales; Brit. Jus. Lansd. MS. 1218, f.64; Add. MS. 5485, f. 204."

"Justices of Peace for Wales; Brit. Mus. Lansd. MSS. 35, art. 40; 737, f. 149 - Harl. MS. 1933."

"List of Sheriffs of Brecknockshire, 1539 - 1717; Brit. Mus. Harl. MS. 2289, f. 340."

"List of Bayliffs, Recorders, and Alderman of Brecknock, 1556 - 1715; Brit. Mus. Harl. MS. 2289, f. 344."

"Names of Justices of the Peace in Co. Cardigan, Carmarthen, and Pembroke, 1587; Brit. Mus. Lansd. MS. 53, art. 87."

"Names of the Sheriffs of Denbigh, from 1541 to 1682; Brit. Mus. Harl. MS. 2122, art. 32."

"List of High Sheriffs of Monmouth, 1647 - 1653; Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 5832, f.181."

"Survey of the Cathedral Church of Bangor; Jesus Coll. Oxf. MS. cxvi."

"Surveys of the Cathedral Churches of Bangor, Llandaff, St.Asaph, and St. David's, by Browne Willis, were printed at London in the years 1721, 1718, 1720, and 1717, in 8 vo."

Church and State

Ancient history of the Welsh has been recorded by a couple of sources. The major source has been termed "The Annales Cambriae", compiled around 11oo AD from a number of older sources. Its entries are brief and to the point, describing events that have significance to the writers. Of course, the writers would be from the Church since they were the only ones who could write! I thought it would be of interest to see how much the Church and State interplayed among these early Welsh historians. These events have been analyzed by topics catigorized as "Church", "State", and "Nature". So here is my analysis.

There are 148 "events" recorded in the records. These are dated between 447 AD to 954 AD, a total of 507 years. The first event states: "Days as dark as night". This was classified as "Nature". The second event states: "Easter altered on the Lord's Day by Pope Leo, Bishop of Rome". This would be classified as "Church". In 516 AD there is a listing which states: "The Battle of Badon, in which Arthur carried the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ for three days and three nights on his shield and the Britons were the victors." This was classified as both "Church" and "State". Each event was analyzed by content, and placed into the category(ies) that seemed to fit the best. Some events would fit into more than one category. Using this method, the following information was found:

1) The first 69 years (447-516) 100 percent were "Church" events [except for the very first date].

2) For the first 150 years (447-601), 67 percent were "Church" events, and 42 percent were "State" events. Only 8 percent were classified as "Nature".

3) The next 98 years (606-704) changed dramatically with only 21 percent "Church" and 72 percent "State". "Natural" events were listed at 24 percent.

4)The years 714 - 798 involved 20 percent "Church", 80 percent "State", and 10 percent "Nature".

5) "Church" and "State" events [the recording of these] remained fairly stable during the years 807 - 900 showing 18 percent "Church", 78 percent "State", and 13 percent "Nature".

6) The final years of record, 902 - 954, showed 19 percent "Church", but 92 percent "State", and no "Nature"!

Overall, for the 148 events recorded in "The Annales Cambriae, 23 [16%] were "Church" related; 96 [65%] were "State", and 15 [10%] were "Nature". Church to State, it seems to be the pattern.

Birth of a Nation

Divided by mountains, rivers, and the sea, it was their first two centuries [400 AD - 600 AD] that taught the Welsh a new speech and a new social order. After Rome pulled out, it was clear that the strongest organ of defence [thus survival] was the family unit. Building homes, rearing the young, weaving garments, and trading surpluses were all part of this life. Cattle became the key procession, tilling the earth became a key survival skill, and defending the home a key activity. To conquer the cold, the mountains, and the sea would soon convince all that survival was allowed by permission of this physical geography! Common descent, common language, and common culture melted these Celtic tribes into the Welsh. Authority and power were based in your descent, not in your political allegiance to a common elite. The kin-group shared a common great-grandfather, held land in common, was held responsible for offences of the family, and sought retribution in common for any grievances. Cherishing their differences and their Independence, the Welsh nation and tongue was born.

In The Ancient Days

Before it was written down, the earliest Welsh stories were already very old. Having a pre-Christian origin, they originate from their Celtic roots, through Irish roots, to the Welsh language. As discussed in a previous post, Aneirin and Taliesin are thought to have flourished in north Britain, bring eulogy and glory to the independent Princes of Wales. [See last post "First Welsh Writers, The Bards".]

Copies of these tales where recorded in two manuscripts. The first was called "White Book of Rhydderch"[ Llyfr Gwyn Rhydderch], which is believed to have been written ca. 1300-1325. The second is called "Red Book of Hergest"[ Llyfr Goch Herhest], written ca. 1375-1425. They record 12 medieval Welsh tales, which underwent translation by Charlotte Guest, publishing three volumes, during the years 1838-1849. It is her work that tags these stories as "The Mabinogion". A text called "The Fate of the Princes of Dyfed" by Cenydd Morus gives the following account in his translation, chapter I, "The Council of The Immortals" which is called "...the Immortal Kindred...":

"They were a peerless tribe, a family to be praised and lauded and honored; flaming bodied, even the least of them; august and beautiful. It was they who preserved the beauty of Britain, and the valor, and modesty, and truthfulness, and wisdom of the Race and Kindred of the Cymry, in the ancient days." So were the words of the ancients.

Pillar of Eliseg

Claim through lineal descent was a major requirement for those who sought to occupy the land in the mountains and hills of Wales. As early as 850 A.D., Concenn (Cyngen) claimed leadership of his family's lands through direct descent of his great-grandfather Eliseg (Elisedd). [Welsh law allowed heirs to claim "pencenedl" (head of family)to the fourth generation.] Eliseg is believed to have recovered his family's lands, the "kingdom of Provosia" (Powys), from the Anglo-Saxons. Concenn then erected a stone monument, crowned by a cross, apparently over the grave of Eliseg. This monument has come to be called "The Pillar of Eliseg".

During the English Civil War, the cross was broken and thrown down by Puritan fury who seemed to believe it was some sort of Popish idolatry. Re-erected, the "cross" now stands seven to eight feet tall. It is believed to have been originally at least 12-25 feet tall. The inscriptions upon the monument have long been illegible. At least some partial translations have been recorded before its destruction. Written in Latin [Church folks would have written it.] it is recorded by Edward Llwyd:

"Concenn filius Cateli, Cateli filius Brochmail, Brochmail filus Eliseg, Eliseg filuse Cnoillaine, Concenn itaque pronepos Eliseg edificavit hunc lapidem proavo suo Eliseg..."

Translated, this would roughly read: "Concenn was the son of Cattell, Cattell the son of Brohemail, Brohemail the son of Eliseg, Eliseg the son of Guoillaue. Concenn therefor the great-grandson of Eliseg built this stone to his great-grandfather Eliseg..."

Ashley in his book, British Kings & Queens, lists this lineage through Vortigen, who is credited with inviting the Saxons to the island in the first place! [found on p. 151 under "Powys and The Marches".]

Family, family, family; lineage, lineage, lineage; genealogy, genealogy, genealogy; this is the Welsh way.

Welsh Chronology - Part II

This is the second post on a chronological history by dates. On the most part, these dates have been selected based upon my genealogical research. They are not intended to be an all inclusive list, and represent my personal choice of events.

702 A.D. Cenred received the kingdom of Mercia. (Anglo-Saxon Chronicles)

704 A.D. Aethelred, son of Penda, who had been king of Mercia for twenty-nine years before Cenred, received monkshood. (Anglo-Saxon Chronicles)

Wat's Dyke most likely completed around this time period. An important landmark for
my JONES family genealogy.

754 A.D. Rhodri - King of the Britons- dies

755 A.D. Offa - King of Mercian Angles 755-796 A.D.

768 A.D. Easter was changed among the Britons- Celtic Church to Catholic Church calender

784 A.D. Offa - Devastated Britain - importation of Mercian setters to eastern part of Offa's Dyke

Offa's Dyke construction.

795 A.D. Pagans came to Ireland - start of Viking raids

822 A.D. Powys controlled by Saxons - fortress of Degannwy destroyed

Saxon townships bear English or Half-English names
field and farm nomenclature remain Welsh

850 A.D. "Black Gentiles" invade Wales -

853 A.D. island of Mon wasted by Vikings

855 A.D. Rhodri took Powys - Powys under control of Welsh

916 A.D. Anarawd ap Rhodri - King of Britons - dies

917 A.D. Hywel Dda - visitor to Saxon court

Edward the Elder establishes Saxon burh= fortified town at Rhuddlan

924 A.D. Edward the Elder died -

Athelstan brought Welsh princes to tribute at Hereford

945 A.D. Hywel Dda - Welsh Laws codified

949 A.D. Hywel Dda dies during Viking raid

950 A.D. - 1066 A.D. Welsh Civil War - internal struggles

1017 A.D. Llywellyn ap Seisyll sized the throne of Gwynedd

1037 A.D. Leofric, Earl of Merica - defeated at Welsh-pool

1039 A.D. Gruffydd ap Llwelyn becomes "High King" ruled Gwynedd and Powys

1055 A.D. Hereford burned

1056 A.D. Gruffydd ap Llywelyn - Kingship of All Wales
4 provinces = Dyfed (Demetia), Gwent, Gwynedd, and Powys

1063 A.D. Gruffydd ap Llywelyn killed at Snowdoia - 5 Aug 1063 A.D.

1066 A.D. Battle of Hastings!

Welsh Chronology - Part I

In genealogy, a detailed chronology, a time line, is very helpful in understanding a family's story. A time line is also very helpful in understanding the history of a people. The following outline gives a rough chronology for the Welsh nation from its beginnings until just before the Norman invasion. The dates are combined from a number of sources and are roughly accurate plus or minus 5 years or so. [Dates varied between sources depending upon how their calender was kept.] So here goes:

429 A.D. last of legions sail from Britain-Cunedda comes from Manaw Gododdin (Antonie Wall)

446 A.D. appeal of Britons to Aetius

447 A.D. Welsh history started-"Days as dark as night" (Annales Cambriae)

449 A.D. King Vortigern - listed - PICTS WAR

Saxons "invited" to settle in Britain

470 A.D. "Welsh" term first used by Saxons (The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles)

473 A.D. Hengest/Aese - fought the Welsh - SAXON WARS

500 A.D. Cadwallon ap Einion ap Cunedd - begins Welsh Rulers

516-517 A.D. The "Battle of Badon"- Arthur

570 A.D. Saint Asaph - St. Asaph founded

597 A.D. St. Augustine sent to Britian - summon Celtic church to Catholic faith

603 A.D. Scots invade Northumbia

613 A.D. Battle of Chester - Northumbia invades

615 A.D. Bangor-Is-coed destroyed by Northumbian army

655 A.D. loss of Shropshire area to Mercians - Kings of Britain killed

664 A.D. Synod of Whitby - Roman Catholic Church Calender adopted in Wales

682 A.D. Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon died on trip to Rome

More to come!

The Social System

The family group formed the foundation of Celtic society. This agnatic group [related through male descent or on the father's side] extended over four generations. It centered around groups of farmsteads, each the property of a particular family. The original settlement of the kindred group was called the "henfref". In the Welsh this family property came to be called the "trefs". As the number of family settlements began to increase in number and size, the holding of family meetings (courts) and the collection of dues (taxes) became more of a logistic problem. The "trefs" [12 - 16 in number] were then grouped into "commotes" to help facilitate the collection of dues and hold family meetings in a more central area. As the number of "commotes" increased in size, their organization became more important, and a group of commotes [4-6 in number] were formed into larger social units called "cantrefs". The cantrefs were roughly synonymous with the Anglo-Saxon hundred. The further up the social chain, the most distant the family relationships. You can begin to see how the leadership of the cantrefs would come into question, as the number of cantrefs increased, each being a different family [kindred group]. A group of cantrefs might form together to help one another in certain disputes. This group of cantrefs would need a chief leader, and soon these groups of cantrefs came under the control of a head, called ultimately a "king" by the Romans. Thus, the largest administrative unit in the Welsh culture became viewed as a "principality", under the rule of a single individual, which then became the rule of a single dynasty. In the Welsh, these political units were called a "gwlad". The head (king) exercised certain privileges which came to be called "prerogatives". As a male born into this social system, it was his standing in a network of kindred [trefs], rather than his standing as the citizen of a state, that determined his social status, his economic rights, and his legal obligations under tribal law.

The Name

As the dust started to settle among the hills and mountains, tribal groups clustered among them. As in any culture, when you first meet, you ask "What is your name?", and "Where are you from"? In the earliest days, it was common to give your name and some sort of physical description. This might be like...Peter, the Tall, or Peter, The Short, or David The Red Headed, or David with the Dark Skin. As the families became more organized and settled, and their history more prolonged, the founding fathers (tribal leaders) would become more important. "Who was your father?" came to be extremely important, especially if you had a score to settle or reprisal to take.

On the island, the Picts appear to be the first group to adapt the system of linking their name to that of their father. Drust Mac Erp is the earliest to recorded such a name, living around 449 A.D. Here, Mac means "son of", thus Drust is the son of Erp.(p.169)[These names are taken from a reference called "British Kings & Queens, by Mike Ashley, Barnes & Noble, 1998. The page numbers from this reference are given.] It was some 80 years later that around 530 A.D. Cynlas ap Owain appears in the Welsh Kingdom of Powys.(p.150) This is closely followed by:

Erbin map Custennyn, 540 A.D., from the south-east and south-west (p.116)

Bodgu ap Serguil, 560 A.D., from Ceredigion and Seisyllwg, (p.130)

Meurig ap Tewdrig, 580 A.D., from Gwent and Glywysing, (p.125)

Beli ap Rhun, 580 A.D., from Venedotia and Gwynedd, (p.144)

Owain map Urien, 590 A.D., from northern Britain, (p.106)

From this listing, it can be seen that this system of naming had taken root before 600 A.D. The Welsh system became "ap" (before a constant), and "ab" (before a vowel) to mean "the son of".

The Language

A glue that helps bind a people together is their language. It is their language that signals their presence to other cultures, and becomes an integral part of their society. Being forced into the hills and mountains of the western most part of the island, the Welsh language evolves 500 A.D. - 600 A.D. from its Celtic roots. The land being central to the family settlements, it became imperative to be able to claim and keep what little geographic area you could. What land have you settled? What land do you claim? Where do you live and how do I get there if I need to? Understanding this need, helps one understand the Welsh language and its use in naming and genealogy. Many Welsh place names are based on words that describe a landmark or a feature of the countryside. For example: a forest or woodland came to be called Coed, and the lower location would use the word isaf. This isaf-coed would tell the hearer the lower forest. A Bangor settlement in the lower forest that needed to be separated from a Bangor settlement in the upper forest, would become Bangor-Is-Coed. A settlement that took on a church at its center was called a Llan. This was often followed by the chief supporter of this church being frequently the tribal leader. Thus the settlement named Llangorwen would mean the settlement(enclosure) that was cleared by Gorwen, and the church there was being established and supported by Gorwen. On and on it goes, name that land! Welsh words are:

mor = sea [important since the land was surrounded on three sides by the sea.
glan = shore [a lot of shore line]
afon = river [a lot of rivers]
bryn = hill [from the oceans come the hills]
bron = slope of a hill
mynydd = mountain [lots of mountains]
bwlch = mountain pass
llyn = lake
bro = vale
nant = stream
ogot = cave
rhos = moor/marsh
ynys = island
carreg = stone
craig = rock
clun = meadow
clwyd = perch/gate
dros = over
glyn = valley
ty = house
plas = hall/mansion
maes = field
mawr = big
bach = small
caer = fort
dinas = hill fortress
pen = head/top/end
pont = bridge
twr = tower
uchaf = upper/highest
wrth = near/by
tref = town

In Welsh, my present house would be Plas-Gwyn. Where do you live?

The Mountains, The Mountains

From 600 feet, to more than 3,000 feet goes the land. The highest peak being 3560 feet located in the extreme northwest. In the south, the highest peak being 2960 feet. Climb every mountain would seem to be the theme of this land!

The map to the right is my attempt to show the geographic distributions of these mountain peaks. Scattered about in several clusters, they divide and break apart this land into distinct settlement areas. After Roman withdrawal, these areas became open to any group that could get there first and hold on to the land.

Early Welsh writers identify several folks who took charge during this period. [400 A.D.- 600 A.D.] The Cunedda conquests are part of this history. Left alone alone in the northern most boarder of the Roman defenses, called Antonia Wall, he came with his sons to defend the northwest area from the Irish. He and his sons are identified as the founding fathers of what was to become the Kingdom of Gwynedd. [Some early writers also call this Venedotae from the tribe thought to occupy this part of the world.]

You have already read about Vortigern (Gwrtheyrn) and his many escapades involving the Saxons. He is credited, good or bad, with the founding of what was to become the Kingdom of Powys, after being driven there by the Saxons and most of the Britons. [This is where my JONES family derives its Y-DNA.]

The southwest corner came under Irish influence through the spread of Christianity. David, a Celtic priest, came to this area and established a monastic house at what came to be called St. Davids. His name was given to Dyfed, which became the Kingdom of Dyfed.

The southeast sections split in several small areas with competing interest. It is in this area that the "Men of Gwent" settled.

The founding fathers are many. You can begin to understand their history and genealogy based upon the geography of the land. As the Welsh language developed, it was used to describe the location of their family's land. Over the hill, past the large meadow, to the small lake was about the only way to give directions. Understanding these facts begin to lay a foundation to understanding Welsh genealogy, and the Welsh language.

Important Factors

Before starting this blog called Welsh Genealogy, I had started a blog called The Jones Surname. Since the surname JONES has its origins and history in Wales, many of the early post deal with Welsh history and background. So as not to repeat much of the information, please seen the post that will give a overview of ancient Britain and those factors which seem to have an impact upon Welsh Genealogy. The post are titled and dated:

"The Beginnings" - July 31, 2010.

"Latin terms" = August 4, 2010

"Mind your P's and Q's" - August 5, 2010

"Walas" - August 7, 2010

"The Story Telling Gene" - August 12, 2010

"Sure Kin" - August 13, 2010

"Empire Without Limit" - August 17, 2010

"North to South" - August 22, 2010

"The First Jones" - August 25, 2010

"Sons of Beli mawr" - August 29, 2010.

This gives some of the factors which are important in understanding Welsh genealogy.
The blog is http://thejonessurname.blogspot.com.

Cattle Rustling

When the writers of history first arrived to our island, they described a multitude of family groups scattered about the island. Each family group (tribe) had settled a particular part of the island, laying claim to its own territory. These family groups all shared a cultural background from a central European origin which is now called "Celtic". Speaking a variety of Celtic languages, they lived in rural settlements, often warring with one another. The Romans would describe these tribal areas as kingdoms.

Prior to the Romans, money was of little use among these Celtic folks. Wealth was reckoned in cows, and trade carried on by barter of livestock. Cattle rustling was a major form of military training, and was an expected part of life among the settlements. Cattle were grazed among the uplands in summer months, and brought to winter quarters in the lowlands. This form of living called "transhumance" remained a form of society extending to our Welsh culture. [The Welsh have words for "summer home" and "winter home".]

Kinship was all important. A "pedigree", often fanciful by modern standards, established a family's descent from the ancient kings and heroes of the past. It was the family that gave a man his essential identity, enabled him to inherit land, and protect and avenge him in case of murder. More to come.