Bob Wallace <BWAL123(a)aol.com> wrote:
I have seen both spellings [Bedwelty / Bedwelity] on various posts and
wonder what the correct spelling should be.
=============
Dear Bob,
The correct Welsh spelling (as Mike MacSorley stated) is Bedwellte, but the
most commonly found spelling is Bedwellty.
For example, Bedwellty is used on road signage, on modern Ordnance Survey
maps and gazetteers, and by the Church in Wales on its noticeboard outside
the parish church (St Sannan's).
In the "Dictionary of the Place-Names of Wales", Owen and Morgan state:
BEDWELLTE
'abode of Mellteu' from 'bod' (abode), and Mellte(u) (personal name).
The identity of Mellte is unknown, although a 13 century genealogy such a
name for one of the daughters of Brychan Brycheiniog, and a river name
Mellte occurs in Ystradfellte. Bod also occurs as 'Bed-' in Bedlinog
although some have argued for the influence of 'bedw' (birch) here. A common
modern variance (seen as early as 1584) is Bedwellty probably influenced by
'ty'.
Elwyn Davies, in "A Gazetteer of Welsh Place-Names", also gives Bedwellte as
the correct Welsh spelling.
Sources:
OWEN, Hywel Wyn, & MORGAN, Richard (2007) "Dictionary of the Place-Names of
Wales", Gomer Press, Llandysul. ISBN 978 184323 901 7.
DAVIES, Elwyn (1967) "Rhestr o Enwau Lleoedd -- A Gazetteer of Welsh
Place-Names", University of Wales Press, Cardiff. ISBN 0-7083-1038-9.
Kind regards,
John
--------------------
John Ball, Brecon, Mid-Wales, UK
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