New research finds strong trends towards Welsh language place names
Research on how property, street, and business names are changing across Wales shows a clear shift towards using Welsh language place names.
The report commissioned by the Welsh Government collected a wide range of valuable evidence, including:
- Local authorities received three times more applications for Welsh language street names than English language names between 2018-2023.
- Most changes to property names do not involve a change in the language of the property name.
- When they do change language, properties are at least three more likely to be renamed from English to Welsh than from Welsh to English.
- In all regions of Wales, more house names are changed from English to Welsh than Welsh to English.
- People report that Welsh house names give them “a sense of pride, place or nostalgia”.
- Welsh Language Secretary Mark Drakeford said: “Place names help tell the story of who we are as a nation, and this new research helps us understand our linguistic landscape. I’m encouraged to see more people embracing Welsh property names, regardless of their background.”
Celebrating Cymraeg
The research focused primarily on property names, business names, and street names, with the need for further investigation into names for topographical features in the natural environment also highlighted.
As part of the Welsh Government’s wider work to promote and celebrate Cymraeg and our culture, it has established a network of Cultural Ambassadors to support the language in their communities.
The Cultural Ambassadors will be able to draw upon the List of Historic Place Names of Wales, which includes over 700,000 names and is funded by the Welsh Government.
“Go for it”
Mark Drakeford said: “I’m proud to launch the gold level of our cultural ambassadors course, where people can learn more about the language and our culture online.
“The course includes modules on a range of topics including place names. If you want to support the Welsh language in your area, or know somebody who would be an ideal ambassador, then go for it.”
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Guess its a good start, I still think we should start changing the names of all the houses that come onto the market to Welsh, ensure all new buildings and streets have welsh names. There are many places also with a one or two letter difference between english and welsh which is a waste. These should also be removed. We should be working together to promote an unique offering to tourists. For example if we want to go to Germany, France or Hungary they are very distinct from each other and a reason why people visit. Scotland has made more… Read more »
Denbighshire council, where I live, has an established policy that all roads in new housing areas must have Welsh names, so round here what you’re suggesting is already in operation.
But I think that you’re quite right to point to the sheer pointlessness of having alternative Welsh and English names when the difference in minimal. ‘Abertawe’ and ‘Swansea’ are entirely different words, but ‘Rhuthun’ and ‘Ruthin’ is without logic.
“Scotland has made more progress in being more distinct than us culturally we should follow suit.” Care to give any examples? I’d argue the opposite, I’ve lived in Scotland and I don’t think this is true at all. The major differences are due to geography and its legal system… things like the colder climate (not exactly an advantage), historic architecture (although most new buildings look like they could be from anywhere in the ‘Yookay’) diet (not something the Scots should be proud of), banknotes (when cash is on its way out) and their dialect of English (derived from Northumbrian). Gaelic… Read more »
Scotland lost much of its Gaelic culture and language during the potato famine which led to a de facto ethnic cleansing of the Highlands and islands. Unlike Ireland, this wasn’t down to starvation, because charitable efforts was more generous to non-Catholics, but to migration and emigration. And there was of course the Viking influence, so that much of the Scotland vs England rivalry is based on competing invading tribes rather than indigenous vs Invader.
Recently visited Saundersfoot in south Pembrokeshire and noticed the national park now calls the village Llanusyllt/Saundersfoot on its signage. Hope Pembrokeshire County Council follows their example soon. On my walk I was pleasantly surprised to see how many local businesses are supporting the language with a range of bilingual signage. It was also noticeable how many houses had Welsh names. To me this indicated a very positive attitude to Welsh from people who live and run small business there.
Dim Cymraeg, dim cwsmeriaeth yw fy egwyddor i, cyn belled ag y bo’n bosib. Ac mae hynny yn anodd, hyd yn oed yn Meirionnydd.
Definitely not the case in Bro Morgannwg! And that’s despite complaints about the naming of streets in new estates to the Commissioner.
Interesting,can you elaborate more on this please.
Having moved to the Vale from west Wales a few years ago, I’m constantly horrified at what the locals do to Welsh language place names. They seem to treat the language with utter contempt. So much so I don’t really consider where I live to be Cymru any more. English incomers generally treat Welsh language and culture with more respect than the good people of Barry.