Gilfach

Morphology: from “cilfach”
Phonetic: gill-va-ch

"Cilfach" is a word that means a "nook", a sheltered corner or hiding place. "Cil" is a retreat, for example a location where a hermit or a monk would go for solitude and the word is found in many place names throughout Wales such as Cilfynydd and Ciliau Aeron . The name here has been listed as Tyre Kilvache vargoed in 1629, Kilvach Bargoed 1632 and as Kilvach Bargod in 1729 for example. A map of Glamorganshire for "England and Wales Delineated" in 1843 shows the place name as Gilfach-fargawd-fawr – or "Greater Gilfach Bargoed" and the tradition of naming Gilfach together with neighbouring Bargoed remains commonplace today.