Welsh exonyms facts for kids
The Welsh language has given names to many towns and places around the world. These names are often found in countries where Welsh people have settled or explored. When a place outside of Wales has a Welsh name, it's like a little piece of Wales is carried there!
Sometimes, these names are direct translations. Other times, they are just the Welsh way of saying a foreign name. Names that are italic in the lists below are older or not used anymore.
Contents
Welsh Names Around the World
Have you ever wondered why some places far from Wales have Welsh names? It's often because Welsh people traveled and settled in new lands. They brought their language and culture with them, naming new towns, rivers, and mountains after places they remembered or things they saw.
Argentina: A Little Piece of Wales
One of the most famous places where Welsh names are found is Argentina. In the 1860s, a group of Welsh settlers moved to the Chubut Valley in Patagonia, Argentina. They wanted to preserve their language and culture. They built towns and farms, giving them Welsh names that are still used today!
English Name | Welsh Name | Spanish Name | What it Means (Notes) |
---|---|---|---|
Arroyo Pescado | Nant y Pysgod | Arroyo Pescado | Fish Stream |
Cajón de Ginebra | Bocs Gin | Cajón de Ginebra | Gin Box |
Cerro Cóndor | Craig yr Eryr | Cerro Cóndor | Eagle Rock |
Cerro Trono de las Nubes | Gorsedd y Cwmwl | Cerro Trono de las Nubes | Throne of the Cloud |
Chico River | Afon Fach | Rio Chico | Small River |
Chubut River | Afon Camwy | Rio Chubut | Winding River |
Colonia 16 de Octubre | Cwm Hyfryd, Bro Hydref | Colonia 16 de Octubre | Pleasant Valley, October Land |
Desvío km 22 | Tŵr Joseph | Desvío km 22 | Joseph's Tower |
Dolavon | Dol Afon | Dolavon | River Meadow |
Estación Laguna Grande | Llyn Mawr | Estación Laguna Grande | Big Lake |
Florentino Ameghino Dam | Yr Argae | Dique Florentino Ameghino | The Dam |
Fuerte Aventura | Caer Antur | Fuerte Aventura | Adventure Fort |
Laguna de Aaron | Llyn Aaron | Laguna de Aaron | Aaron's Lake |
Laguna de Agnia | Llyn Ania | Laguna de Agnia | Agnia's Lake |
La Angostura | Lle Cul | La Angostura | Narrow Place |
Las Plumas | Dôl y Plu | Las Plumas | Feather Meadow |
Loma Blanca | Bryn Gwyn | Loma Blanca | White Hill |
Paso de Indios | Rhyd yr Indiaid | Paso de Indios | Indians' Ford |
Pampa de Agnia | Pant y Ffwdan | Pampa de Agnia | Agnia's Marsh |
Puerto Madryn | Porth Madryn | Puerto Madryn | Madryn's Port (named after a Welsh leader) |
Rawson | Trerawson | Rawson | Rawson's Town |
Río Corrintos | Aber Gyrants | Río Corrintos | Confluence of Currents |
Tecka | Hafn Lâs | Tecka | Blue Summer Pasture |
Trelew | Tre Lew(is) | Trelew | Lew's Town (named after a Welsh pioneer) |
Trevelin | Tre Felin | Trevelin | Mill Town |
Valle de los Mártires | Dyffryn y Merthyron | Valle de los Mártires | Valley of the Martyrs |
Valle Frío | Dyffryn Oer | Valle Frío | Cold Valley |
Valle 16 de octubre | Cwm Hyfryd/Bro Hydref | Valle 16 de octubre | Pleasant Valley/October Land |
Veintiocho de Julio | Tir Halen | Veintiocho de Julio | Salt Land |
Australia: Down Under Welsh Names
Even in Australia, you can find places with Welsh names! This shows how far Welsh people traveled and settled.
English Name | Welsh Name | Local Name | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Tiriogaeth Prifddinas Awstralia | Australian Capital Territory | |
Kangaroo Island | Ynys Cangarŵ | Kangaroo Island Karta Pintingga |
Kangaroo Island |
![]() |
De Cymru Newydd | New South Wales | New South Wales (named after South Wales in the UK) |
![]() |
Tiriogaeth y Gogledd | Northern Territory | |
![]() |
De Awstralia | South Australia | |
![]() |
Gorllewin Awstralia | Western Australia |
Canada: Across the Atlantic
Welsh names also appear in Canada, reflecting the history of Welsh immigrants who helped build the country.
English Name | Welsh Name | Local Name | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Columbia Brydenig | British Columbia Columbie Britannique |
|
Newfoundland | Tir Newydd | Newfoundland Terre-Neuve Ktaqmkuk |
New Land |
![]() |
Tir Newydd a Labrador | Newfoundland and Labrador Terre-Neuve et Labrador |
New Land and Labrador |
![]() |
Yr Alban Newydd | Nova Scotia Nouvelle-Écosse Alba Nuadh Nopa Sko'sia |
New Scotland |
Europe: Close to Home
Even in countries close to Wales, like France and Ireland, you can find Welsh versions of place names. This is often due to historical connections and the spread of languages over time.
France
English Name | Welsh Name | Local Name | Language |
---|---|---|---|
Alps | Alpau, Mynydd Mynnau | Alpes | French |
![]() |
Llydaw | Breizh | Breton |
Bretagne | French | ||
Bertaèyn | Gallo | ||
![]() |
Bwrgwyn | Bourgogne | French |
![]() |
Gasgwyn | Gascogne | French |
Gasconha | Gascon | ||
Gaskoinia | Basque | ||
Nantes | Naoned | Nantes | French |
Naoned | Breton | ||
Naunnt, Nantt | Gallo | ||
![]() |
Normandi, Norddmandi | Normandie | French |
Normaundie | Norman | ||
Saint-Malo | Sant-Maloù | Saint-Malo | French |
Sant-Maloù | Breton | ||
Strasbourg | Strasbwrg | Strasbourg | French |
Straßburg | German |
Germany
English Name | Welsh Name | Local Name | Language |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Bafaria | Bayern | Bavarian, German |
Cologne | Cwlen | Kölle | Colognian |
Köln | German | ||
Hamburg | Hambwrg | Hamburg | German |
Greece
English Name | Welsh Name | Local Name | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Aegean Sea | Môr Aegeaidd, Môr Egeaidd | Αιγαίο πέλαγος | |
Athens | Athen | Athína (Αθήνα) | |
Crete | Creta | Kríti (Κρήτη) | |
Rhodes | Rhodos | Ródos (Ρόδος) |
Ireland
English Name | Welsh Name | Local Name | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Cork | Corc | Corcaigh | |
Dublin | Dulyn | Baile Átha Cliath | The Welsh name comes from an older Irish name, ‘Duibhlinn’. |
Ulster | Wlster; Wlaidd, Wledd, Wleth | Ulaidh |
Italy
English Name | Welsh Name | Local Name | Language |
---|---|---|---|
Rome | Rhufain | Roma | Italian |
![]() |
Sisili | Sicilia | Italian, Sicilian |
Venice | Fenis | Venesia | Venetian |
Venezia | Italian |
Spain
English Name | Welsh Name | Local Name | Language |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Ynysoedd Balearaidd | Illes Balears, Islas Baleares | Catalan, Spanish |
![]() |
Gwlad y Basg | Euskal Herria, País Vasco | Basque, Spanish |
![]() |
Yr Ynysoedd Dedwydd, Ynysoedd y Cŵn | Islas Canarias | Spanish |
![]() |
Catalwnia | Catalunya, Cataluña | Catalan, Spanish |
![]() |
Galisia | Galicia Galiza |
Galician/Portuguese Portuguese |
![]() |
Cymuned Falensia | Valencia, València | Spanish, Catalan |
Turkey
English Name | Welsh Name | Local Name | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Constantinople | Caergystennin | قسطنطينيه (Ḳosṭanṭīnīye) Κωνσταντινούπολις (Kōnstantinoupolis) Constantinopolis |
|
Istanbul | Istanbwl | İstanbul |
United Kingdom: English Places with Welsh Names
Even within the United Kingdom, many places in England have Welsh names or names that come from Welsh. This is because Wales and England share a long history and border.
English Name | Welsh Name | Local Name | Language | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bath | Caerfaddon | Bath | English | |
Bristol | Bryste; Caerodor | Bristol | English | |
Cambridge | Caergrawnt | Cambridge | English | |
Canterbury | Caergaint | Canterbury | English | |
Carlisle | Caerliwelydd | Carlisle | English | |
Chester | Caer(llion Fawr) | Chester | English | |
Cornwall | Cernyw | Kernow | Cornish | |
Dover | Dofr | Dover | English | |
Edinburgh | Caeredin; Dinas Eidyn | Dùn Èideann | Scottish Gaelic | |
Edinburgh | English, Scots | |||
England | Lloegr | England | English | |
Exeter | Caerwysg | Exeter | English | |
Gloucester | Caerloyw | Gloucester | English | |
Hereford | Henffordd | Hereford | English | |
Isle of Man | Ynys Manaw | Ellan Vannin | Manx | |
Isle of Wight | Ynys Wyth | Isle of Wight | English | |
Lancaster | Caerhirfryn | Lancaster | English | |
Leicester | Caerlŷr | Leicester | English | |
Liverpool | Lerpwl, Llynlleifiad | Liverpool | English | |
London | Llundain, Caerludd | London | English | |
Manchester | Manceinion | Manchester | English | |
Oxford | Rhydychen | Oxford | English | |
Plymouth | Aberplym | Plymouth | English | |
Salisbury | Caersallog; Caercaradog, Caergradwg | Salisbury | English | |
Scotland | Yr Alban | Alba | Scottish Gaelic | |
Scotland | English, Scots | |||
Shrewsbury | Amwythig | Shrewsbury | English | |
Stonehenge | Côr y Cewri | Stonehenge | English | Giants' Dance |
Winchester | Caerwynt, Caerguint | Winchester | English | |
Worcester | Caerwrangon | Worcester | English | |
York | Efrog, Caerefrog | York | English |
United States: New World, Old Names
The United States also has places with Welsh names, often from early settlers.
English Name | Welsh Name | Local Name | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
California | Califfornia | California | |
New Mexico | Mecsico Newydd | New Mexico Nueva México |
|
New York City | Dinas Efrog Newydd | New York City | New York City |
Pennsylvania | Pensylfania | Pennsylvania | Penn's Woods (named after William Penn, but has a Welsh feel) |
See also
- List of European exonyms
- Welsh placenames
- Welsh place names in other countries