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Llan (placename) facts for kids

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Llan (pronounced `ɬan` in Welsh) is a common part of place names in places like Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, and parts of Scotland and England. It usually means a special, enclosed piece of land. Over time, it came to mean a holy place, often where a church or a Christian community was built.

In Welsh, "Llan" is often followed by the name of a local saint or a description of the land. For example, Llanfair means the area around the church of Saint Mary. In Goidelic languages (like Irish and Scottish Gaelic), the word often appears at the end of a place name as -lann.

What Does Llan Mean?

The word "Llan" is related to the English words "land" and "lawn." It probably first meant a piece of land that was cleared and fenced off. Later, during the late Roman period and early Middle Ages, it became a special term for holy land used by early Christian groups.

More than 630 places in Wales have "Llan" in their name. Almost all of these places are linked to a local patron saint. These saints were often the founders of the church or were related to the ruling families of the time.

How a Llan Became Holy

To make a new "Llan" holy, the founder of the community had to live there and follow strict rules for 40 days (except Sundays). They would eat only once a day, having a small piece of bread and an egg, and drinking only water and milk. After this period, the land was considered sacred forever.

Early "Llan" settlements often had a circular or oval earth bank with a protective wooden fence. Inside, there were simple wooden or stone huts. Unlike some other Christian settlements, these early "Llan" places were not just chapels for local lords. They were more like separate communities, often a bit away from regular towns. Over time, some of these successful communities grew into monasteries (places for monks) or became regular towns controlled by a local lord.

Later, in the Middle Ages, "Llan" also started to mean a whole parish (a church district) or a part of a larger area like a commote or hundred.

Place Names in Wales

Many places in Wales are named using "Llan." They can be named after saints, have other religious links, or sometimes no religious link at all.

Places Named After Saints

Most "Llan" names in Wales honor a specific saint. Here are a few examples:

  • Llanaelhaearn: Named after Saint Aelhaiarn.
  • Llanarmon: Named after Saint Garmon.
  • Llanbadarn Fawr: Named after Saint Padarn.
  • Llanbadrig: Named after Saint Patrick.
  • Llanberis: Named after Saint Peris.
  • Llanddewi Brefi: Named after Saint David.
  • Llandeilo: Named after Saint Teilo.
  • Llandudno: Named after Saint Tudno.
  • Llanelli: Named after Saint Elli.
  • Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch: This very long name includes Saint Mary and Saint Tysilio.
  • Llanfihangel: Many places named Llanfihangel are named after Saint Michael, the Archangel.
  • Llangadog: Named after Saint Cadoc.
  • Llangollen: Named after Saint Collen.
  • Llantrisant: Means "church of three saints" (Illtud, Gwynno, and Dyfodwg).
  • Llantwit Major: Named after Saint Illtud.

Places with Other Religious Connections

Some "Llan" names have a religious meaning but aren't named after a specific saint:

  • Llandaff: Named after the River Taff.
  • Llandow: Comes from "Llandhuw," meaning "Church of God."
  • Llandrindod: Named after the Trinity (meaning "the three-in-one God").
  • Llanfachraeth: Means "place of the little beach."
  • Llanfaes: Means "church of the field."
  • Llanymynech: Means "Church of the Monks."

Places Without a Religious Connection

Sometimes, "Llan" is part of a place name that doesn't have a religious meaning today:

  • Llanaber: Named after the River Aber.
  • Llanarth: Named for the River Arth.
  • Llandovery: Means "church enclosure amidst the waters."
  • Llandre: Means "town."
  • Llanfynydd: Means "mountain church."
  • Llangoed: Means "religious enclosure in the wood."
  • Llanuwchllyn: Means "Llan above the lake."
  • Llanwern: Means "church on the marshy ground."

Place Names in Cornwall

Cornwall, a region in England, also has many "Llan" place names, often spelled "Lan-" or "Lann-."

Places Named After Saints

  • Lannahevran: Named after Saint Achevran.
  • Lannaled: Named after Saint Aled.
  • Lannstevan: Named after Saint Stephen.
  • Lannust: Named after Saint Just.

Places with Other Religious Connections

  • Lannbesow: Means "birch tree enclosure."
  • Lanneves: Means "sacred grove religious enclosure."
  • Lannsans: Means "holy religious enclosure."

Places Without a Religious Connection

  • Landu: Originally "Nansdu," meaning "black or dark valley."
  • Lannergh: Means "woodland clearing."
  • Lanmornow: Originally "Nansmornow," meaning "valley of a stream called Morno."

Place Names in Brittany

Brittany, a region in France, also has many "Llan" place names, often spelled "Lan-" or "Lann-."

Places Named After Saints

Places with Other Religious Connections

  • Lanfains: Its name comes from "lann" (hermitage) and "fanum" (temple), suggesting a religious site.

Place Names in Cumbria

The Cumbric language, an old Celtic language, was once spoken in Cumbria, a region in England. Some place names there have a Celtic origin.

  • Lamplugh: The second part, '-plugh,' might mean "parish" or "bare."
  • Lampert: This name might be related to the Welsh word perth, meaning "hedge" or "thicket."

Place Names in Scotland

Some place names in Scotland also have Celtic roots, including forms like "Lhan-," "Lum-," "Lon-," and "Lin-," which are similar to "Llan." The Scottish Gaelic word lann means "enclosure" or "churchyard."

Places Named After Saints

  • Lhanbryde: Named after Saint Bride.
  • Lumphanan: Named after Saint Fhìonain.
  • Lumphinnans: Also named after Saint Fhìonain.

Places with Other Religious Connections

  • Lincluden: This place had an abbey. The first part of the name could mean "pool."
  • Lindores: This place also has an abbey. The name might mean "church at the pass."
  • Longannet: This name probably meant "former church enclosure."

Places with No Known Religious Connections

  • Falkland: The meaning of the first part of this name is not clear.
  • Lumquhat: This name might mean "enclosure of the wild-cats."
  • Lynchat: Means "wildcat's enclosure."

In Fiction

  • The American TV show One Life to Live is set in a fictional town called Llanview, Pennsylvania.
  • Llanwelly is a fictional Welsh village in the movie The Wolfman.

See also

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