Product Description

This scholarly and accessible dictionary, the first of its kind in Wales, deals with most of the place-names of Wales as well as prominent features of the landscape. For each name, the authors provide the evidence of historical forms and dates, identify the etymological elements, comment on the derivation, meaning and linguistic development, and explain the topographic, social or historical significance. Based on the authors' original research and that of other place-names scholars past and present, this authoritative dictionary also includes an invaluable glossary of the place-names elements.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #50765 in Books
• Published on: 2007-11-30
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 680 pages

About the Author
Professor Hywel Wyn Owen is Director of the Place-name Research Centre at Bangor University and Vice President of the Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland. He is a regular broadcaster, and advises the Welsh Assembly and the Welsh Language Board and other national bodies on matters pertaining to place-names. Richard Morgan is an archivist, formerly with Shropshire and now with Glamorgan Record Office. He is an honorary lecturer at the School of Welsh at Bangor University. Both have published extensively and are acknowledged as leading authorities on the place-names of Wales.

Customer Reviews

Dictionary of the place names of Wales
This is undoubtably an important work. Regrettably it has one serious flaw however. Although it lists earlier spellings of place names, as is usual in serious place name studies in the UK, it does not give references for those earlier spellings. Thus the reader is unable to check the veracity of the evidence given and from an academic viewpoint this must be unacceptable.

Congratulations to the Authors
This volume must surely take it's place as the definitive work on the place-names of Wales, and the only one to stand comparison with those already written for the place-names of England and Scotland. The inclusion of all available early records and the easily understood explanations will be much appreciated by the average non-academic reader - such as myself!

William Oxenham

Dictionary of the Place-names of Wales
The Dictionary of the Place-names of Wales is a must for all toponomists and will be the standard work of reference for years to come.