Welsh Journals

A Study of the Place-Names of Montgomeryshire. D. MACHRETH ELLIS, M.A. (CONTINUED.) ABERMULE. 37 N.W. Abermyol, A.D. 1291 (E.R.N., s.v. Meole "). Aber Mywl, 14th century, Reg. Con. (Yscuba6r) aber mi61i, A.D. cir. 1400, R.B.B. 376. (the brigge2 of Avermiwl, A.D. cir. 1485, It. Worc. 355. Abermule, A.D. 1653, C.D. 1126. Abermule, A.D. 1775, Ll.D., 16. Abermule = aber (see M.C., vol. XLV, p. 12) + the river-name Mule. Here aber refers to the confluence of the Mule and the Severn. Mule: In early maps and elsewhere the river-name is found as follows:- Mule brook, A.D. 1566-7, C.D. 464. Mulle flud, A.D. 1610, Sn. Sp. Mulle flu., A.D., 1645, J.B.; A.D., 1646, J.; A.D. 1673, B. Mude R (sic), A.D. 1695, Mn. Mulle flu., A.D. 1601, Mn. No satisfactory explanation of this river-name has yet been found. In his book on English River-Names Ekwall equates Meole3 with Mule, and sug- gests a possible connection with the Welsh word moel (= ("bare, bald," or, when used as a noun, hill, mountain "). It may be that Mule is a pre-Celtic word, with its origin lost in obscurity. The difficulty of connecting it with any Welsh or English word points to that conclusion. On the other hand, it is possible that Mule (or Miwl, as spelt in Welsh) may be a hitherto non-recorded personal name. The absence of earlier forms renders it extremely difficult for us to penetrate through the mists of antiquity which guard so jealously the origin and meaning of this baffling but interesting name. ADFA. 29 N.W. Adfa, A.D. 1811, T.D.W. (s.v. Llanwyddelan); yr Adfa, A.D. 1818, A.L.K. In the spoken language this name is invariably preceded by the article yr, and must therefore be assigned to the same category as Y Trallwng (Welshpool) and Y Bala (etc.). The probable derivation of Adfa is from Ad/an, with the final n lost after a, 1. The barn of Aber Miwl." 2. i.e., bridge." 3. The name of a stream in Shropshire.