Gwenllian (or Gwenllïan) is a

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, of or about Wales * Welsh language, spoken in Wales * Welsh people, an ethnic group native to Wales Places * Welsh, Arkansas, U.S. * Welsh, Louisiana, U.S. * Welsh, Ohio, U.S. * Welsh Basin, during t ...

given name, a combination of ''gwen'' "fair, blessed, white" and ''llian'' " flaxen"). It is most prominently known as the name of two women in medieval

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

who have, for different reasons, become symbols of Welsh

patriotism Patriotism is the feeling of love, devotion, and a sense of attachment to one's country or state. This attachment can be a combination of different feelings for things such as the language of one's homeland, and its ethnic, cultural, politic ...

and/or independence.

Notable people

Arts and entertainment

* Gwenllian Anthony, member of

Adwaith Adwaith () are a Welsh language indie rock group from Carmarthen in West Wales, formed in 2015. The group consists of Hollie Singer (vocals, guitar), Gwenllian Anthony (bass, keys, mandolin) and Heledd Owen (drums). Signed to Libertino Records ...

* Gwenllian Gill, actress

Athletes

Gwenllian Jenkins Gwenllian Jenkins (born 20 November 2000) is a Welsh Rugby Union player who plays prop for the Wales women's national rugby union team and Scarlets. She made her debut for the Wales national squad in 2019, and represented them at the 2021 Women's ...

, rugby union player * Gwenllian Pyrs, rugby union player

Medieval Wales

Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd () (''Gwenllian, daughter of Gruffydd''; 1097 – 1136) was a 12th-century Welsh rebel and Princess of Deheubarth. The daughter of Prince of Gwynedd Gruffudd ap Cynan and member of the House of Aberffraw, she marrie ...

(1097–1136) Her patriotic revolt and subsequent death in battle at Kidwelly Castle contributed to the Great Revolt of 1136 *

Gwenllian ferch Llywelyn Gwenllian ferch Llywelyn (June 1282 – 7 June 1337), commonly known as Gwenllian of Wales, was the daughter of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Prince of Wales (). Gwenllian is sometimes confused with Gwenllian ferch Gruffudd, who live ...

(1282–1337) A daughter of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Ein Llyw Olaf, and sister to Catherine his eldest daughter. Owain Glyndŵr was later to adopt the (lions rampant version) arms of Llywelyn on the basis of direct descent via Catherine, Catherine being the heraldic heiress of Llywelyn.Owen, Edward: ‘Owain Lawgoch – Yeuain de Galles: Some Facts and Suggestions’, The Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, p. 16, Session 1899-1900

Politicians

Gwenllian Lansdown Gwenllian Lansdown Davies (born 1979) is a former Welsh Plaid Cymru politician, a former County Councillor for Riverside, and Chief Executive of Plaid Cymru between 2007 and 2011. She is currently the Chief Executive of Mudiad Ysgolion Meithr ...

, Plaid Cymru politician *

Gwenllian Morgan Gwenllian Elizabeth Fanny Morgan (9 April 1852 – 7 November 1939) was the first woman in Wales to hold the office of Mayor. She was also an antiquary and published books about her area of study. Morgan served as superintendent of Petitions and ...

, first female mayor in Wales *

Siân Gwenllian Siân Gwenllian is a Welsh Plaid Cymru politician who has represented the constituency of Arfon in the Senedd since 2016. She currently holds the seat with a majority of 8,642 votes. Early life and career Gwenllian was educated at Friars S ...

Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru ( ; , ; officially Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales, and often referred to simply as Plaid) is a centre-left, Welsh nationalist list of political parties in Wales, political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from th ...

politician

In popular culture

Gwenllian is the name of a song by prominent Welsh songwriter

Meic Stevens Meic Stevens (born 13 March 1942) is a Welsh singer-songwriter. He has been one of the most prominent figures in the Welsh music scene for over five decades, and played a key role in establishing the popular music scene in Wales. He is descri ...

and Anglesey rock band Calfari, based on

. It is also the name of the summit

Carnedd Gwenllian , Furth Carnedd Gwenllian, previously known as Carnedd Uchaf until 2009, is a minor summit of the Carneddau range in Snowdonia, Wales, and included in the Welsh 3000s. From the summit, distant views to the north can extend as far as Irela ...

in the

Carneddau The (lit. 'the cairns'; is a Welsh language, Welsh plural form, and is sometimes anglicised to ''Carnedds'') are a group of mountains in Snowdonia, Wales. They include the largest contiguous areas of high ground (over or high) in England and W ...

, named after

. A character in

The Raven Cycle ''The Raven Cycle'' is a series of four contemporary fantasy novels written by American author Maggie Stiefvater. The first novel, ''The Raven Boys'', was published by Scholastic in 2012, and the final book, ''The Raven King'', was published o ...

by American author

Maggie Stiefvater Margaret Stiefvater ( ; née Hummel; born November 18, 1981) is an American writer of young adult fiction who is best known for her Fantasy literature, fantasy series ''The Wolves of Mercy Falls'' and ''The Raven Cycle''. Life and career Early ...

is named Gwenllian.

References

{{given name Welsh feminine given names Feminine given names