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:Caer

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{{short description|Placename element in Welsh meaning "stronghold", "fortress", or "citadel".}}

File:Cardiff Castle North Gate - geograph.org.uk - 558526.jpg, following the old Roman fortifications and rebuilt along Roman lines.]]

Caer ({{IPA|cy|kɑːɨr}}; {{langx|owl|cair}} or {{lang|owl|kair}}) is a placename element in Welsh meaning "stronghold", "fortress", or "citadel",Carlisle, Nicholas. [https://archive.org/stream/walestopographic00carluoft#page/xxx/mode/2up Topographical Dictionary of the Dominion of Wales, "Glossary", p. xxx.] W. Bulmer & Co. (London), 1811. roughly equivalent to an Old English suffix (-ceaster) now variously written as Chester (placename element).Allen, Grant. [https://books.google.com/books?id=2mgJAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA419 "Casters and Chesters" in The Cornhill Magazine, Vol. XLV, pp. 419 ff.] Smith, Elder, & Co. (London), 1882.{{refn|More precisely, these English placename elements derive from Latin castrum ("fortified post") and its plural form castra ("military camp"), making them the more precise equivalent of the Welsh castell.}}

In modern Welsh orthography, caer is usually written as a prefix, although it was formerly—particularly in Latin—written as a separate word. The Breton equivalent is kêr, which is present in many Breton placenames as the prefix Ker-.

Etymology

The term is thought to have derived from the Brittonic *kagro- and to be cognate with cae ("field, enclosed piece of land").Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, vol. 1, p. 384. Although stone castles were largely introduced to Wales by the invading Normans, "caer" was and remains used to describe the settlements around some of them as well. An example is the Roman fort at Caernarfon, formerly known in Welsh as {{lang|cy|Caer Seiont}} from its position on the Seiont; the later Edwardian castle and its community were distinguished as {{lang|cy|Caer yn Arfon}} ("fort in Arfon", the latter being a district name (Cantref Arfon) from "ar Fôn", "(land) opposite Môn or Anglesey"). However, the modern names of the Roman fort and Edwardian castle themselves are now {{lang|cy|Segontiwm}} or {{lang|cy|Castell Caernarfon}}, while the communities carry on the name caer.

Note that the term is not believed to be related to the Irish cathair ("city"), which is instead derived from Proto-Celtic *katrixs, *catarax ("fortification").{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GeXQdMRhTPgC&q=+cathair&pg=RA1-PA115|title=The Development of Celtic Linguistics, 1850-1900: Celtic studies|first=Hermann Wilhelm|last=Ebel|date=April 6, 2001|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=9780415226998|via=Google Books}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CqOZYQAx_xIC&q=cathair&pg=PA175|title=Sengoidelc: Old Irish for Beginners|first=David|last=Stifter|date=June 12, 2006|publisher=Syracuse University Press|isbn=9780815630722|via=Google Books}}

Britain

Gildas's account of the Saxon invasions of Britain claimed that there were 28 fortified Roman cities ({{langx|la|civitas}}) on the island, without listing them.{{refn|De Excidio Britanniae, § 3. {{in lang|la}} Cited in the "Civitas" entry of Celtic Culture.}} The History of the Britons traditionally attributed to Nennius includes a list of the 28, all of which are called "caer"."JTK". [https://books.google.com/books?id=f899xH_quaMC&pg=PA451 "Civitas" in Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia, Vol. I, p. 451]. ABC-CLIO (Sta. Barbara), 2006.{{refn|Latin names according to Mommsen's edition of Nennius,Nennius ({{abbr|attrib.|Traditional attribution}}). Theodor Mommsen ({{abbr|ed.|Editor}}). Historia Brittonum, VI. Composed after AD 830. {{in lang|la}} Hosted at Latin Wikisource. translations and modern equivalents according to Ford,Ford, David Nash. "[http://www.britannia.com/history/ebk/articles/nenniuscities.html The 28 Cities of Britain] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415120312/http://www.britannia.com/history/ebk/articles/nenniuscities.html |date=2016-04-15 }}" at Britannia. 2000. Ussher,Newman, John Henry & al. [http://www.mocavo.co.uk/Lives-of-the-English-Saints-St-Gilbert-Prior-of-Sempringham-Volume-3/527392/459 Lives of the English Saints: St. German, Bishop of Auxerre, Ch. X: "Britain in 429, A. D.", p. 92.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321234154/http://www.mocavo.co.uk/Lives-of-the-English-Saints-St-Gilbert-Prior-of-Sempringham-Volume-3/527392/459 |date=2016-03-21 }} James Toovey (London), 1844. or as otherwise noted.}} Controversy exists over whether this list includes only Roman cities or a mixture of Roman cities and non-Roman settlements.Breeze, Andrew. [http://digitalcommons.brockport.edu/jlo/vol5/iss1/1/ "Historia Brittonum" and Britain's Twenty-Eight Cities at Journal of Literary Onomastics]. 2016. Some of the place names that have been proposed include:

File:Britain roman.png).]]

= Wales =

File:Caernarfon Castle 1994.jpg derives its name from the Edwardian Caernarfon Castle]]

File:Segontium from the A4085 - geograph.org.uk - 267505.jpg now known as Segontium derived its name from a latinization of the British community along the Afon Seiont]]

The element caer, sometimes anglicized as car, is found in several place-names in Wales such as:

  • Caerau, Glamorgan ("Forts"){{cite news |last1=Deacon |first1=Thomas |title=How the suburbs of Cardiff got their names |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/cardiff-suburb-names-how-why-11454553 |access-date=15 May 2021 |work=Wales Online |date=29 May 2020}}
  • Caereinion, Montgomeryshire ("Fort on the Einion")
  • Caerfallwch, Flintshire ("Afallach's fort")
  • Caerfarchell, Pembrokeshire ("Marchell's fort"){{cite web |title=Place Names |url=https://www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/about-the-national-park/culture-and-heritage/place-names/ |access-date=15 May 2021}}
  • Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire ({{lang|cy|Caerfyrddin}}, "Merlin's fort").{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Carmarthen |volume= 5 | page= 355 |short=1}}
  • Caergeiliog, Anglesey ("Fort of the cockrell"){{cite book |last1= Jones |first1= Gwilym |last2= Roberts |first2= Tomos|date= 1996|title= Enwau Lleoedd Môn : The Place-Names of Anglesey|location= Bangor, Wales |publisher= University of Wales Press |page= 122|isbn= 0-904567-71-0}}
  • Caergwrle, Flintshire ("Fort of the crane-wood"){{cite book |last1=Owen |first1=Hywel Wyn |title=The Place-Names of Wales |date=15 February 2015 |publisher=University of Wales Press |isbn=9781783161669 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9FTqDwAAQBAJ |access-date=15 May 2021}}
  • Caerleon, Glamorgan ({{lang|cy|Caerllion}}, "Fort Legion")
  • Caernarfon, Caernarfonsire ("Fort Arfon")
  • Caerphilly, Glamorgan ({{lang|cy|Caerffili}}, "Fort Ffili")
  • Caerrhun, Caernarfonshire ("Fort of Rhun")
  • Caersws, Montgomeryshire ("Susan's fort"){{cite book |last1=Morgan |first1=Thomas |title=The Place-Names of Wales |date=1912 |edition=Second and revised |url=https://archive.org/stream/cu31924028086621/cu31924028086621_djvu.txt |access-date=16 May 2021}}
  • Caerwent, Monmouthshire ("Fort Venta")
  • Cardiff, Glamorgan ({{lang|cy|Caerdydd}}, "Fort Taf")
  • Carew, Pembrokeshire
  • Gaerwen, Anglesey (Caerwen, "white fort")
  • Holyhead, Anglesey ({{lang|cy|Caergybi}}, "Fort Cybi")

= England =

The Cumbric language was spoken in Northern England until the Medieval era in which the element caer ("fort") was used in naming places. It also appears in Cornish place-names as Ker-.

  • Caermote, Cumberland (Caermollt, "Fort of the wether")
  • Cardew, Cumberland (Caerdu, "Black fort")
  • Cardunneth, Cumberland (Caerdunawd, "Dünǭd's fort")
  • Cardurnock, Cumberland (Caerdwrnog, "Fort of the fist-sized stones")
  • Cargo, Cumberland (Caergoll, "Fort of hazel")
  • Carhullan, Westmorland ("Fort of Holland")
  • Carrick, Northumberland (Caerwig, "vicus fort")
  • Carlatton, Cumberland ("Fort of the leek enclosure")
  • Carlisle, Cumberland ({{lang|cy|Caerliwelydd}}, "Fort Luguwalos"){{cite web |last1=James |first1=Alan |title=The Brittonic Language in the Old North |url=https://spns.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Alan_James_Brittonic_Language_in_the_Old_North_BLITON_Volume_II_Dictionary_2020_Edition.pdf |website=Scottish Place Name Society}}
  • Carmolt, Cumberland (Caermollt, "Fort of the wether")
  • Carrycoats, Northumberland ({{lang|cy|Caerycoed}}, "Fort of the wood")
  • Carvoran, Northumberland ({{lang|cy|Caerferin}}, "Fort of the Morini")
  • Kerrier, CornwallA. D. Mills, A Dictionary of British Place Names (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011), s.v.

Caer is also found in Welsh exonyms for English cities.

File:Carriden House.jpg in Scotland.]]

= Scotland =

Cumbric and Pictish were Brittonic languages spoken in Scotland until around the 12th century, and caer ("fort") was a place-naming element in both languages.

  • Caerketton, Midlothian ("Fort of Catel")
  • Caerlanrig, Roxburghshire ({{lang|cy|Caerllanerch}}; "Fort Clearing")
  • Caerlaverock, Dumfriesshire ("Fort of Llywarch")
  • Carcluie, Ayrshire ("Fort of Clewein")
  • Carden, Fife. Formerly Cardenni
  • Cardonald, Renfrewshire ("Duμnwal's fort")
  • Carleith, Dunbartonshire
  • Carmichael, Lanarkshire ("Fort of Saint Michael")
  • Carmuirs, Stirlingshire
  • Carmurie, Fife ("Fort of the Sea")
  • Carmyllie, Angus ("Fort of the warrior")
  • Carpow, Perthshire ({{lang|cy|Caerpwll}}; "Fort of the sluggish stream")
  • Carriden, West Lothian ("Fort Eidyn")
  • Carruthers, Dumfriesshire ("Fort of Rhodri")
  • Carstairs, Lanarkshire ("Fort of the Tarras")
  • Crail, Fife ("Fort of the rock"){{cite book |last1=Simon |first1=Taylor |last2=Markus |first2=Gilbert |title=The Place-names of Fife |date=2006 |publisher=Shaun Tyas |isbn=9781900289771 |edition=Illustrated}}
  • Cramond, Midlothian ("Fort Almond")
  • Kair, Kincardineshire ("Fort")
  • Keir, Aberdeenshire ("Fort"){{cite book |last1=Watson |first1=W.J. |last2=Taylor |first2=Simon |title=The Celtic Place-Names of Scotland |date=2011 |publisher=Birlinn LTD |isbn=9781906566357 |edition=reprint}}
  • Keir, Dumfries-shire ("Fort")
  • Keir, Stirlingshire ("Fort"){{cite book |last1=Hall |first1=Mark A |last2=Driscoll |first2=Stephen T |last3=Geddess |first3=Jane |title=Pictish Progress: New Studies on Northern Britain in the Early Middle Ages |date=11 November 2010 |publisher=Brill |isbn=9789004188013 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6d55DwAAQBAJ |access-date=30 June 2019}}
  • Keirhill, West Lothian
  • Keirs, Ayrshire
  • Kirkbuddo, Angus ("Fort of Buiteoc")
  • Kirkcaldy, Fife ({{lang|cy|Caercaledin}}; "place of the hard fort" or "place of Caled's fort"){{cite web|url=http://fife-placenames.glasgow.ac.uk/placename/?id=726|title=Fife Place-name Data :: Kirkcaldy|website=fife-placenames.glasgow.ac.uk}}
  • Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire. Formerly Caerpentaloch

In fiction

See also

References

{{reflist|2}}

{{Fortifications}}

Category:Place name element etymologies

Category:Welsh toponymy

Category:Prefixes

Category:English suffixes