Caer

{{other uses}} {{Short description|Placename element in Welsh meaning "stronghold", "fortress", or "citadel"}}

[[File:Cardiff Castle North Gate - geograph.org.uk - 558526.jpg|thumb|right|The north gate of Cardiff Castle, 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",<ref>Carlisle, Nicholas. [https://archive.org/stream/walestopographic00carluoft#page/xxx/mode/2up ''Topographical Dictionary of the Dominion of Wales'', "Glossary", p.&nbsp;xxx.] W.&nbsp;Bulmer &&nbsp;Co. (London), 1811.</ref> roughly equivalent to an Old English suffix (''-ceaster'') now variously written as {{nowrap|''-caster''}}, {{nowrap|''-cester''}}, and {{nowrap|''-chester''}}.<ref name=chessie>Allen, Grant.<!--sic--> [https://books.google.com/books?id=2mgJAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA419 "Casters and Chesters" in ''The Cornhill Magazine'', Vol.&nbsp;XLV, pp.&nbsp;419&nbsp;ff.] Smith, Elder, &&nbsp;Co. (London), 1882.</ref>{{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== {{wikt}} The term is thought to have derived from the Brittonic *''kagro-'' and to be cognate with ''cae'' ("field, enclosed piece of land").<ref>''Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru'', vol. 1, p. 384.</ref> 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").<ref name=chessie /> 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").<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

== 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'', §&nbsp;3. {{in lang|la}} Cited in the "Civitas" entry of ''Celtic Culture''.<ref name=cc />}} The ''History of the Britons'' traditionally attributed to Nennius includes a list of the 28, all of which are called "caer".<ref name=cc>"JTK". [https://books.google.com/books?id=f899xH_quaMC&pg=PA451 "Civitas" in ''Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia'', Vol.&nbsp;I, p.&nbsp;451]. ABC-CLIO (Sta. Barbara), 2006.</ref>{{refn|Latin names according to Mommsen's edition of Nennius,<ref name=mommy>Nennius ({{abbr|attrib.|Traditional attribution}}). Theodor Mommsen ({{abbr|ed.|Editor}}). ''Historia Brittonum'', VI. Composed after AD&nbsp;830. {{in lang|la}} Hosted at Latin Wikisource.</ref> translations and modern equivalents according to Ford,<ref name=nashford>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.</ref> Ussher,<ref name=shusher>Newman, John Henry &&nbsp;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.&nbsp;X: "Britain in 429, A.&nbsp;D.",<!--sic--> p.&nbsp;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.</ref> or as otherwise noted.}} Controversy exists over whether this list includes only Roman cities or a mixture of Roman cities and non-Roman settlements.<ref>Breeze, Andrew. [http://digitalcommons.brockport.edu/jlo/vol5/iss1/1/ "Historia Brittonum" and Britain's Twenty-Eight Cities at ''Journal of Literary Onomastics''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113113451/http://digitalcommons.brockport.edu/jlo/vol5/iss1/1/ |date=2017-11-13 }}. 2016.</ref> Some of the place names that have been proposed include: [[File:Britain roman.png|thumb|300px|right|Roman Britain (1911).]] * Cair Brithon ("Fort of the Britons": Dumbarton in Strathclyde<ref name=nashford />{{refn|Bishop Ussher argued for Bristol.<ref name=shusher />}}) * Cair Caratauc ("Fort Rampart": Salisbury?<ref name=shusher /> Sellack?<ref name=nashford />) * Cair Ceint ("Fort Kent": Canterbury) * Cair Celemion (Camalet?{{refn|Usser,<ref name=shusher /> following John Leland.<ref>Cited in Frank Reno's [https://books.google.com/books?id=V4-bzmtrFnwC&pg=PA203 ''The Historic King Arthur: Authenticating the Celtic Hero of Post-Roman Britain'', Ch.&nbsp;7: "Camelot and Tintagel", p.&nbsp;201].</ref>}} Silchester?<ref name=nashford />) * Cair Colun ("Fort Colonia": Colchester?<ref name=nashford /><ref name=shusher />) * Cair Custoeint ("Fort Constantius or Constantine": Caernarfon;{{refn|Bishop Ussher cites another passage in Nennius:<ref>On page 20 of Stevenson's 1838 edition of Nennius's works.</ref> "Here, says Nennius, Constantius the Emperor (the father probably of Constantine the Great) died; that is, near the town of Cair Segeint, or Custoient, in Carnarvonshire". Nennius stated that the emperor's inscribed tomb was still present in his day.<ref name=shusher /> Ford credits this to Constantine, son of Saint Elen.<ref name=nashford />}} or {{abbr|poss.|Possibly}} a Devonian hillfort{{refn|Per Ford, who ascribed Nennius's "Caer-Custoeint" to one of the Dumnonian kings named Constantine.<ref name=nashford />}}) * Cair Daun ("Fort Don": Doncaster) * Cair Draitou (Drayton?<ref name=shusher /> Dunster?<ref name=nashford />) * Cair Ebrauc ("Fort York": York) * Cair Grauth ("Fort Granta": Cambridge{{refn|Although note that Bishop Ussher ascribed this to the Cambridge in Gloucestershire.<ref name=shusher />}}) * Cair Guent ("Fort Venta": Caerwent<ref name=nashford /> or Winchester<ref name=shusher />) * Cair Guiragon ("Fort Weorgoran": Worcester) * Cair Guorthigirn ("Fort Vortigern": Little Doward?<ref name=nashford /> Carmarthen?<ref>Veprauskas, Michael. [https://www.vortigernstudies.org.uk/artgue/mikecaer.htm "The Problem of Caer Guorthigirn" at ''Vortigern Studies'']. 1998.</ref>) * Cair Guricon (Warwick?<ref name=shusher /> Wroxeter?<ref name=nashford />) * Cair Legeion Guar Usic ("Fort Legion on the Usk": Caerleon-upon-Usk) * Cair Legion ("Fort Legion": Chester) * Cair Lerion ("Fort Leir": Leicester) * Cair Ligualid ("Fort Luguwalos": Carlisle) * Cair Luit Coyt ("Fort Grey Wood": Wall{{refn|Henry of Huntington previously ascribed it to Lincoln, which was followed until the 19th century, when Bradley placed it at Lichfield,<ref>In ''Academy'', Vol.&nbsp;XXX, Oct. 1886.</ref> thinking it to be the Roman Letocetum. Instead, excavations have shown that Letocetum was located at nearby Wall instead.<ref name=nashford />}}) * Cair Lundem ("Fort Londinium": London{{refn|Both Ussher and Ford use the transcription ''Lundein''; with regard to Mommsen, note the similarity with Lindum, the Roman name for present-day Lincoln, and the generic name *''Lindon'', "lake".}}) * Cair Maunguid (Manchester?) * Cair Meguaid ("Fort Mediolanum": Meifod?<ref name=nashford /><ref name=shusher /> Llanfyllin?<ref name=rob>Williams, Robert. [https://books.google.com/books?id=spYxAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA59 "A History of the Parish of Llanfyllin" in ''Collections Historical & Archaeological Relating to Montgomeryshire'', Vol.&nbsp;III, p.&nbsp;59]. J. Russell Smith (London), 1870.</ref> Caersws?<ref>Roman Britain Organisation. [http://www.roman-britain.org/places/caersws.htm "Mediomanum?" at ''Roman Britain''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070401114019/http://www.roman-britain.org/places/caersws.htm |date=2007-04-01 }}. 2010.</ref> in Powys) * Cair Mincip ("Fort Municipium": {{nowrap|St Albans}}) * Cair 'Pensa vel Coyt' ("Fort Penselwood":{{refn|''{{lang|cy|Coit}}'' is Welsh for "woods" or "forest". Ford takes the name as a single construction "Caer-Pensa-Uel-Coyt" ("Fort Penselwood"), while Mommsen and Ussher treat ''{{lang|la|vel}}'' as the Latin word for ''or'': "Cair Pensa ''or'' Coyt".<ref name=mommy /><ref name=shusher />}} Exeter?<ref name=shusher /> Ilchester?<ref name=nashford />) * Cair Peris (Portchester?<ref name=shusher /><ref name=nashford /> Builth Wells?<ref name=nashford />) * Cair Segeint ("Fort Seiont": Caernarfon;<ref name=nashford /> or {{abbr|poss.|Possibly}} Silchester<ref name=shusher />) * Cair Urnarc (Wroxeter?<ref name=shusher /> Dorchester?<ref name=nashford />)

=== Wales === [[File:Caernarfon Castle 1994.jpg|thumb|right|Caernarfon derives its name from the Edwardian Caernarfon Castle]] [[File:Segontium from the A4085 - geograph.org.uk - 267505.jpg|thumb|right|The Roman fort now known as Segontium derived its name from a latinization of the British community along the Afon Seiont<ref name=chessie />]]

The element ''caer'', sometimes anglicized as ''car'', is found in several place-names in Wales such as: * Caerau, Glamorgan ("Forts")<ref name="Deacon2020">{{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}}</ref> * Caereinion, Montgomeryshire ("Fort on the Einion")<ref name="Morgan1912" /> * Caerfallwch, Flintshire ("Afallach's fort")<ref name="Morgan1912" /> * Caerfarchell, Pembrokeshire ("Marchell's fort")<ref name="pemcoast">{{cite web |title=Place Names |url=https://www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/about-the-national-park/culture-and-heritage/place-names/ |access-date=15 May 2021}}</ref> * Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire (''{{lang|cy|Caerfyrddin}}'', "Merlin's fort").<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Carmarthen |volume= 5 | page= 355 |short=1}}</ref> * Caergeiliog, Anglesey ("Fort of the cockrell")<ref name="JonesRoberts">{{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}}</ref> * Caergwrle, Flintshire ("Fort of the crane-wood")<ref name="PNWales15">{{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}}</ref> * Caerleon, Newport (''{{lang|cy|Caerllion}}'', "Fort Legion") * Caernarfon, Caernarfonshire ("Fort Arfon") * Caerphilly, Glamorgan (''{{lang|cy|Caerffili}}'', "Fort Ffili") * Caerrhun, Caernarfonshire ("Fort of Rhun")<ref name="Morgan1912" /> * Caersws, Montgomeryshire ("Susan's (Shoshana's) fort")<ref name="Morgan1912">{{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}}</ref> * Caerwent, Monmouthshire ("Fort Venta") * Cardiff, Glamorgan (''{{lang|cy|Caerdydd}}'', "Fort Taf") * Carew, Pembrokeshire<ref name="pemcoast" /> * Gaerwen, Anglesey (''Caerwen'', "white fort")<ref name="Morgan1912" /> * 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.<ref name="BLITON" /> It also appears in Cornish place-names as ''Ker-''.<ref name="BLITON" /> * Caermote, Cumberland (''Caermollt'', "Fort of the wether")<ref name="BLITON" /> * Cardew, Cumberland (''Caerdu'', "Black fort")<ref name="BLITON" /> * Cardunneth, Cumberland (''Caerdunawd'', "Dünǭd's fort")<ref name="BLITON" /> * Cardurnock, Cumberland (''Caerdwrnog'', "Fort of the fist-sized stones")<ref name="BLITON" /> * Cargo, Cumberland (''Caergoll'', "Fort of hazel")<ref name="BLITON" /> * Carhullan, Westmorland ("Fort of Holland")<ref name="BLITON" /> * Carrick, Northumberland (''Caerwig'', "vicus fort")<ref name="BLITON" /> * Carlatton, Cumberland ("Fort of the leek enclosure")<ref name="BLITON" /> * Carlisle, Cumberland (''{{lang|cy|Caerliwelydd}}'', "Fort Luguwalos")<ref name="BLITON">{{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}}</ref> * Carmolt, Cumberland (''Caermollt'', "Fort of the wether")<ref name="BLITON" /> * Carrycoats, Northumberland (''{{lang|cy|Caerycoed}}'', "Fort of the wood")<ref name="BLITON" /> * Carvoran, Northumberland (''{{lang|cy|Caerferin}}'', "Fort of the Morini")<ref name="BLITON" /> * Kerrier, Cornwall<ref name="D. Mills, 2011">A. D. Mills, ''A Dictionary of British Place Names'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011), s.v.</ref>

''Caer'' is also found in Welsh exonyms for English cities. * Cambridge (''{{lang|cy|Caergrawnt}}'', "Fort Granta") * Canterbury (''{{lang|cy|Caergaint}}'', "Fort Kent") * Chester (''{{lang|cy|Caer}}'', "Fort") * Chichester (''{{lang|cy|Caerfuddai}}'') * Durham (''{{lang|cy|Caerweir}}'', "Fort of the Wear")<ref name="BLITON" /> * Gloucester (''{{lang|cy|Caerloyw}}'') * Exeter (''{{lang|cy|Caerwysg}}'', "Fort Usk", also Cornish ''Karesk'') * Lancaster (''{{lang|cy|Caerhirfryn}}'') * Leicester (''{{lang|cy|Caerlŷr}}'', "Fort Leir") * Lichfield (''{{lang|cy|Caerlwytgoed}}'', "Fort Grey Wood") * Salisbury (''{{lang|cy|Caersallog}}'') * Winchester (''{{lang|cy|Caerwynt}}'') * Worcester (''{{lang|cy|Caerwrangon}}'')

[[File:Carriden House.jpg|thumb|Carriden House, a refurbished Roman fort which formerly formed part of the Antonine Wall 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.<ref name="BLITON" /><ref name="PNF" /> * Caerketton, Midlothian ("Fort of Catel")<ref name="BLITON" /> * Caerlanrig, Roxburghshire (''{{lang|cy|Caerllanerch}}''; "Fort Clearing")<ref name="BLITON" /> * Caerlaverock, Dumfriesshire ("Fort of Llywarch")<ref name="BLITON" /> * Carcluie, Ayrshire ("Fort of Clewein")<ref name="BLITON" /> * Carden, Fife. Formerly ''Cardenni''<ref name="PNF" /> * Cardonald, Renfrewshire ("Duμnwal's fort")<ref name="BLITON" /> * Carleith, Dunbartonshire<ref name="BLITON" /> * Carmichael, Lanarkshire ("Fort of Saint Michael") * Carmuirs, Stirlingshire<ref name="BLITON" /> * Carmurie, Fife ("Fort of the Sea")<ref name="PNF" /> * Carmyllie, Angus ("Fort of the warrior")<ref name="cpns" /> * Carpow, Perthshire (''{{lang|cy|Caerpwll}}''; "Fort of the sluggish stream")<ref name="PNF" /> * Carriden, West Lothian ("Fort Eidyn") * Carruthers, Dumfriesshire ("Fort of Rhodri")<ref name="BLITON" /> * Carstairs, Lanarkshire ("Fort of the Tarras")<ref name="BLITON" /> * Crail, Fife ("Fort of the rock")<ref name="PNF">{{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}}</ref> * Cramond, Midlothian ("Fort Almond") * Kair, Kincardineshire ("Fort")<ref name="cpns" /> * Keir, Aberdeenshire ("Fort")<ref name="cpns">{{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}}</ref> * Keir, Dumfries-shire ("Fort")<ref name="BLITON" /> * Keir, Stirlingshire ("Fort")<ref name="pp">{{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}}</ref> * Keirhill, West Lothian<ref name="BLITON" /> * Keirs, Ayrshire<ref name="BLITON" /> * Kirkbuddo, Angus ("Fort of Buiteoc")<ref name="pp" /> * Kirkcaldy, Fife (''{{lang|cy|Caercaledin}}''; "place of the hard fort" or "place of Caled's fort")<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fife-placenames.glasgow.ac.uk/placename/?id=726|title=Fife Place-name Data :: Kirkcaldy|website=fife-placenames.glasgow.ac.uk}}</ref> * Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire. Formerly ''Caerpentaloch''<ref name="BLITON" />

== In fiction == * Caer Benowyc, Caer Berkstead, Caer Boldiam, Caer Caddug, Caer Diogel, Caer Erasleigh, Caer Gothwaite, Caer Hurbury, Caer Renaris, Caer Sidi, Caer Sursbrooke, Caer Ulfwych, and Caer Witrin from the video game ''Dark Age of Camelot'' * Caer Bocram from the video game ''Tales of Vesperia'' * Caer Bronach and Caer Oswin from video game ''Dragon Age: Inquisition'' * Caer Cadarn from the novel series ''The Warlord Chronicles'' - set in Cadbury Castle, Somerset, according to the author's note in ''The Winter King''.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} * Caer Dallben from ''The Chronicles of Prydain'' novel series * Caer Darrow from the video game ''World of Warcraft'' * Caer Dhú from the novel ''The Sword of Rhiannon'' * Caer Llyr and Caer Secaire from the novel ''The Dark World'' * Caer Lyon from the video game ''Wizard101'' * Caer Siorai from the video game ''Death's Gambit'' * Caer Xhan from the video game ''Breath of Fire III'' <!--* Cair Andros from ''The Lord of the Rings'' - Sindarin 'cair' means 'ship', not 'fort' or similar--> * Cair Paravel from the ''Chronicles of Narnia'' novel series * Kaer Morhen and Kaer Trolde from ''The Witcher'' novel series * Kaer Norvent from the video game ''Final Fantasy XVI'' * Kêr-Is (Ys), of Breton legend * Kerrith, town mentioned in the novel ''Rebecca'', set in Cornwall * The Rabbit of Caerbannog from the film ''Monty Python and the Holy Grail'' * Caer-Konig & Caer Dineval from the ''Forgotten Realms'' campaign setting

== See also == * Gaer (disambiguation) * Welsh toponymy

== References == {{reflist|2}}

{{Fortifications}}

Category:Place name element etymologies Category:Welsh toponymy Category:Prefixes Category:English suffixes