sullivand@A1PEKING.SUBURB.RDGMTS.MTS.DEC.COM From: David Sullivan Subject: Yr enw "America" : Cymraeg ? X-To: welsh-l@irlearn.ucd.ie To: Multiple recipients of list WELSH-L [This message is converted from WPS-PLUS to ASCII] Yn y "Penguin Dictionary of Surnames" (ISBN 0-14-051032-X) mae Basil Cottle yn ysgrifennu: "MEYRICK Welsh form (_Meuric_) of MAURICE. Preceded by Welsh _Ap_ 'son of', it is the probable origin of the name _America_, since, when John Cabot returned to Bristol after his second transatlantic voyage in 1498, the king's pension of #20 was handed to him by the two collectors of customs for Bristol, the senior being Richard Ameryk (also appearing in the Customs Roll as _Amerik_ and _Ap Meryke_), who was 'probably the heaviest investor' in the expedition. He lived at Lower Court, Long Ashton, Somerset, from 1491, and his daughter Joan Brook is buried beneath a brass in St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol. (See especially B. Dunning in _Country Life_, 20 June 1963, pages 1507-9.) His title to the eponym of the continent is surely stronger than the frivolous claim of the Italian Amerigo Vespucci." Oes rhywun yn credu hyn ? Mae Basil yn gwneud jo+c bach !? Dave Sullivan (Ionawr unwaith eto - oer, glaw, rhew, gwynt - brrrrr!!)