Explore the stories behind Swansea’s place names, from Viking origins to Welsh meanings and historical battles.
Swansea likely came from a Viking named Sweyn. He used the bay as an anchorage spot in the 11th century. Bonymaen means “base of the stone,” and this could relate to a Bronze Age stone nearby.
Llansamlet and Llangyfelach are named after Welsh saints. “Llan” means church. Cyfelach lived in St. David’s time. Mount Pleasant got its name from a house that stood at a hill’s base in the 1700s.
Uplands came from Uplands Villa, built around 1820. It later became Clevedon College. Pantygwydr was the area’s old name. Port Tennant was where the Tennant Canal ended, and George Tennant finished the canal by 1818.
St. Thomas likely came from a medieval chapel. The chapel probably honored Thomas a Beckett, and it likely existed by the 13th century. Blackpill is a direct translation meaning “black stream” in Welsh.
Rhyddings means a clearing in the woods. Brynmill is a mix of Welsh and English that means the hill with the schools and pub. Mills once stood in Singleton Park, and water powered those mills.
St. Helens is named after a mansion that stood near the Guildhall. They tore it down in the 1880s. A religious building stood there before. Portmead means meadowland outside town.
Garngoch had a big battle in 1136 where the Welsh beat the Normans. Its name means “red cairn” in Welsh. Cadle simply means battlefield, and Blaenymaes means “in front of the field”.
Mumbles might come from a French word that means breasts or udders. This refers to the islands there. Dyfatty means sheep house, which was a place for fairs. Waun Wen means white meadow.
Greenhill was truly a green hill. Irish people later lived there. Bryn Melyn means yellow hill, and it may refer to fields of corn. Ysgybor Fach Street means little barn street.