Gwenfrewi

Gender Feminine
Usage Welsh (Rare)

Meaning & History

Derived from Welsh gwen meaning "white, blessed" combined with another element of uncertain meaning. It could possibly be Welsh ffreu meaning "stream, flow" [1] or the obscure word ffrewi meaning "pacify, quell, reconcile" [2]. This may be the original form of Winifred. In any case, it is the Welsh name for the saint.

Categories

blessed, colors, martyrs, peace, rare Welsh, saints, uncertain etymology, virtues, water, wet, white

Sources & References

  1. Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, entry ffreu, available from https://www.geiriadur.ac.uk/gpc/gpc.html.
  2. Page at https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/A_pocket_dictionary,_Welsh-English.
Entry updated June 9, 2023