Mumbles origin of the name

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From: usa newyork
Date: 08 Dec 2005
Time: 08:12:09 +0100
Remote Name: 222.191.98.39

From: Posted by Geo. Research by Deric John
Date: 09 Jul 2004
Time: 21:50:12 +0100
Remote Name: 62.53.35.173

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4.11.03 THE MUMBLES, Y MWMBWLS Mommulls 1549 Place-Names of Gr. Britain & Ireland Mommells 1583 Earl of Worcester Mummess 16th cent Leland; Enwau Lleoedd 30 Mumbles poynt 1610 Speed The Mumbles Point 1729 E. Bowen Map of S. Wales Mumbles 1799 Yates Map The Mumbles or to give its Welsh form Y Mwmbwls is the name of a village and headland located close to two small islands near the village of Oystermouth, [Ystumllwynarth], Swansea. These two small islands and headland perceived as breasts, were recorded as Mommells in 1549 and Mommells in 1583. Latin mamma = breast, teat; the diminutive form is mamilla with a plural mamillas. This plural form recorded as mommulls and mommells (as above), in turn attracted an intrusive ‘b’ between the ‘m’ and ‘l’ consonants to give a prob. mommbells and ultimately Mumbles. This intrusive ‘b’ is also present in humilis > humble; mumle (to mutter) > mumble and orally, with chimney > chimley > chimbley. c.f. Moel famma = the breast shaped hill; Mam Tor (Derbyshire) = breast shaped hill Mammesfelde = the field near the breast shaped hill > Mansefield The Mumbles from the mommalls = the breasts, referring to the breast shaped contours of the islands and headland. Y Mwmbwls would appear to be a cymricisation of The Mumbles. © Deric John. March, 2003.