March 22, 2026 - 284 views
Efforts to protect Wales’ rich linguistic and cultural heritage are gathering pace, with thousands of previously unrecorded place names now being added to a growing national archive.
Community sessions held across Eryri and Ynys Môn have already uncovered more than 7,000 new names, contributing to the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales’ national list, which now holds over 715,000 entries.
The initiative is now expanding into other parts of the country, including Bannau Brycheiniog and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, with more sessions planned over the coming year.
Organisers say the project is about far more than just names — it is about preserving the stories, language and identity of communities across Wales. Many of the place names being collected exist only in local memory, passed down through generations but never formally recorded.
Dr James January-McCann, curator of the national list, has been leading the sessions, working with local people to capture this knowledge before it is lost.
He said place names are deeply connected to how communities understand their surroundings and themselves, and preserving them ensures that these cultural and linguistic treasures survive for future generations.
The work has particular significance in North Wales, where the Welsh language remains a central part of daily life and identity. In areas like Eryri and Ynys Môn, place names often reflect centuries of history — describing landscapes, local features, farming traditions and folklore.
By recording these names, communities are helping to safeguard a unique part of Welsh heritage that might otherwise disappear over time.
The project also supports wider efforts to promote and protect the Welsh language, aligning with national ambitions to increase the number of Welsh speakers and strengthen its everyday use.
A new toolkit is being developed to allow community groups to run their own sessions and submit place names directly, while an online platform enables anyone to explore the growing database or contribute their own knowledge.
Welsh Language Secretary Mark Drakeford said historic place names offer a vital window into Wales’ past and must be preserved before they are lost forever.
As the project continues to expand, communities across Wales — including those in North Wales — are playing a crucial role in ensuring that the names which define their landscapes, and their stories, continue to be seen, heard and understood for generations to come.
