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ArchivesThe W in G(w)ladys
I'd always innocently bought into the explanation (in all the sources) that Gwladys is the Welsh form of Gladys, and that G(w)ladys is the Welsh form of Claudia. And, though I'm half-Welsh, I don't know a word of the language, not a lot of which happens in South Africa.
So it was that I found the Welsh lyrics to Land of my Fathers (on the BBC Sport website - Six Nations rugby. You get a lot of rugby here ...) and judging from the bilingual text they translate _home_ as _gwlad_. Home as in homeland, presumably.
What's going on? Is it just one of those things, like Polish and polish, that look identical but aren't even related? Since Claudia means Limping or Lame, I don't think there can be a connection, but I've been wrong before.
Anyone out there with useful info? If not here, then where? Wonderful bunch, these list freaks!
All the best
So it was that I found the Welsh lyrics to Land of my Fathers (on the BBC Sport website - Six Nations rugby. You get a lot of rugby here ...) and judging from the bilingual text they translate _home_ as _gwlad_. Home as in homeland, presumably.
What's going on? Is it just one of those things, like Polish and polish, that look identical but aren't even related? Since Claudia means Limping or Lame, I don't think there can be a connection, but I've been wrong before.
Anyone out there with useful info? If not here, then where? Wonderful bunch, these list freaks!
All the best
1
Replies
As all below re: origin of Gladys +
two little additional notes:
There's another Welsh girl's name derived from gwlad - Gwledyr (goo-LED-eer) - a much nicer name. Gwladys is pronounced goo-LAD-iss of course.
Many Welsh names are derived from Latin names, and it got to be a bit of a habit for early etymologists to try to find a similar Latin name. Welsh names that really are from Latin include:
Einion (Annianus)
Ieuan (Iohannes, as opposed to Ioan and Sion, from English John)
Edern (Aeternus)
Padern (Paternus)
Meirchion (Marcianus - but Welsh March is from a word meaning horse, not from Latin Marcus)
Anarawd (Honoratus)
Annun (Antonius)
Arthur (Artorius, but correctly pronounced arth-eer in Welsh)
Elffin (Alpinus)
Awst (Augustus)
Meurig (Mauricius)
Iestyn (Justinus)
Pedrwn (Petronius)
Ynyr (Honorius)
And many others. Not many women's names though - Sefera (fem. form of Severus) is the only one I can think of offhand.
:)
two little additional notes:
There's another Welsh girl's name derived from gwlad - Gwledyr (goo-LED-eer) - a much nicer name. Gwladys is pronounced goo-LAD-iss of course.
Many Welsh names are derived from Latin names, and it got to be a bit of a habit for early etymologists to try to find a similar Latin name. Welsh names that really are from Latin include:
Einion (Annianus)
Ieuan (Iohannes, as opposed to Ioan and Sion, from English John)
Edern (Aeternus)
Padern (Paternus)
Meirchion (Marcianus - but Welsh March is from a word meaning horse, not from Latin Marcus)
Anarawd (Honoratus)
Annun (Antonius)
Arthur (Artorius, but correctly pronounced arth-eer in Welsh)
Elffin (Alpinus)
Awst (Augustus)
Meurig (Mauricius)
Iestyn (Justinus)
Pedrwn (Petronius)
Ynyr (Honorius)
And many others. Not many women's names though - Sefera (fem. form of Severus) is the only one I can think of offhand.
:)
1
I saw the Enion- Annianus entry. I am an Anyan from Wales that are decended from Annianus from Alexandria Egypt. Do you have any more information on this name?
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So interesting, Merriment! Thanks! Satu
1
In addition to Satu's reference from *Celtic Baby Names* by Judy Sierra, stating that the name is derived from "gwlad", meaning "land, nation"...
...The Welsh feminine name of "Gwalia" means "Wales". It's interesting that the name of the country itself appears to be derived from the Welsh word for "nation".
From *Enwau Cymraeg i Blant* ("Welsh Names for Children") by Heini Gruffudd (published by Y Lolfa, 1980)
-- Nanaea
...The Welsh feminine name of "Gwalia" means "Wales". It's interesting that the name of the country itself appears to be derived from the Welsh word for "nation".
From *Enwau Cymraeg i Blant* ("Welsh Names for Children") by Heini Gruffudd (published by Y Lolfa, 1980)
-- Nanaea
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