Alternative Name: Rhisga
Morphology: originally from either yr+is+cae or from the word “rhisgl”
Phonetic: r-hisk-car
There are two conflicting explanations for this place name, which dates back to at least 1146 (sourced from 'Cartae et alia Munimenta de Glamorgan', G.T.Clark 1910). One derivation is from "yr is cae" meaning "the lower enclosure", referring to its location at the lower end of upland areas. The other suggested meaning is that the name comes from "rhisgl" meaning "tree bark", which may have been used in leathermaking and refers to the use of bark on the outside of logbuilt houses; there is no evidence of such structures ever being in the area however. Shown variously as Risca 1330, Ryscha 1535, Riskey 1559, Risgaf 1566, Riseley 1577, Risga 1623, Rishka 1695 and Rhisga in 1778.