Does anyone know the roots and history of the words Wales & Welsh?

Question

Living in Wales (Cymru),and knowing the Romans called it Cambria this is a question I often ask of Welsh speakers - never had an answer yet!

Answer 1

Where does the word Wales come from?

The origin of the word Wales is a strange one. It is a variation on a common word used hundreds of years ago by the Anglo Saxons to mean foreigners or outsiders. Variations of the same word can be found in other countries, such as Walloon part of Belgium.

Since this word is one given to the principality by the Anglo-Saxons rather than by ourselves, it could be argued that Cymru (meaning friends/companions) is a preferable one to Wales, although the origins are long enough in the past for us to be equally proud of both names today. Interestingly, a variation on Cymru can also be found outside Wales, as the name of the northern English county of Cumbria has similar linguistic origins.

NAME

The name Wales has been given to this country not by its inhabitants but by the Teutonic occupiers of England, and means "the territory of the alien race". "Welsh" (German Wälsch) implies a people of either Latin or Celtic origin living in a land near or adjoining that of the Teutons; thus Wälschland is an obsolescent, poetical German term for Italy. After an invasion lasting 330 years, the Anglican, Saxon, and Jutish "comelings" having driven the earlier "homelings" into the hill-country of the west by steady encroachments and spasmodic conquests, the names Wales and Welsh were applied to the ancient people and the land they retained. Wales is in French, Pays de Galles, from Latin Gallus, Low Latin Wallia. In the Middle Ages the Welsh coined in their own tongue a name of similar origin for their country, when, in poetry only, they termed it Gwalia. The Welsh language, however, has no cognate word for the people themselves; they have, ever since the days of the Saxon Heptarchy, styled themselves by no other title than Cymry. The etymology of this word has been a much debated question, but in the opinion of Sir John Rhys (a prime authority) it is compounded of the British con bro and means "compatriots"--the federated tribes of ancient Britain who together contested the soil of their native land with the Germanic invader. In Welsh Cymru means Wales, Cymro a Welshman, Cymracs a Welshwoman, and Cymry Welshmen.

Answer 2

Scots Gaelic is a form of Irish Gaelic and came here with the first migrants. Scots and Irish were victims of what you would probably call nowadays ethnic cleansing. The language was banned in an attempt to subjugate and punish both tribes. The Welsh didn't put up that much of a fight and that continues to this day. Gaelic is now being taught again in Scottish schools but it is not part of the national curriculum unlike the compulsory taking of a European language. So the attempts to bring back the Gaelic are sporadic at least.

Answer 3

Once again, im afraid to say that I think the English named it Wales as they often thought they had the power to do and say exactly what they wanted and take over countries, and noone could argue. Cambria sounds coincidentally like Cumbria though dont you think?? ( before I get slated for this answer I am English but If you know your british history you will have to agree with me that the English were complete B******rds.) There you go, in short, with no copy and paste-which by the way would have been so easy to do.

Answer 4

The name Wales is a name derived not from the inhabitants of Wales but rather by the Teutonic occupiers of England, and means "the territory of the alien race". This can be further understood when you consider the Germanic representation of the word Walha which means "foreigner" or "stranger".

Thus we can understand why the people of Wales would call themselves "Cymry" which means "compatriots". And hence call their land "Cymru" which means "Land of the Compatriots".

Answer 5

Welsh
• noun the language of Wales.
• adjective relating to Wales.
— DERIVATIVES Welshness noun.
— ORIGIN Old English, from Latin Volcae, the name of a Celtic people.

Answer 6

Yep, spot on below. So us welsh..!!! are actually the original british people........ "Hey don't wave that St georges flag in my country please Fritz...."