The whole question of Celts has been questioned recently. Some think that they were driven away by successive invaders, but others think that they were probably largely the same group of people who've slowly changed over the centuries. The same people have probably always been there on Anglesey, farming the land and getting on with their lives, but their beliefs and traditions have evolved with different ideas and influences.
They would likely have been influenced by traders and other outside forces but you don't necessarily need big changes in population because of an invading force for big changes to happen.
The Vikings did come to Anglesey, though it's very uncertain as to how much influence they had. Mark Redknap from the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff recently led a big dig at Llanbedrgoch. They definitely showed Viking activity in the area - there was probably an attack and they then settled. But how long were they here for?
An ancestor of Gruffydd ap Cynan, Olaf, is supposed to have had a castle on Anglesey, but there's such a lot that isn't known.
Anglesey itself is supposed to be a Viking's name - it's amazing that a whole island would have taken on one person's name. I can understand how smaller places got Viking names, like the Skerries and Presholm (Puffin Island) - but the whole of Anglesey is far more impressive!
The name comes from 'Ongl's ey' - Ongl being a Viking name and 'ey' meaning island. But who he was and how he came to give his name to such a big place isn't known.
The name has nothing to do with the 'engl' of England.
In the annals of history it's said the Vikings came and pillaged Penmon, but there must be so much we don't know. What is known is the crosses at Penmon are inspired by the Norse tradition, so the Vikings must have brought some positive ideas to the area.
Watch a video clip about the meaning of Anglesey.
your comments
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Roger from Llanfairfechan
I often wonder whether red haired people have viking blood in their veins. I understand that many Vikings stayed in Britain and became farmers and no doubt there would have been inter-breeding with the indigenous population.
Mon Feb 23 09:49:43 2009
Christine Mottram. Christchurch- New Zealand
My great grandfather was six feet tall and had red gold hair and blue eyes. My grandmother always said he must have some Viking blood in his family way back. I can trace his ancestors back only to the 1700s, though they seemed to have always lived on Anglesey. It is most likely the Vikings did come to Anglesey as the Isle of Man is so close where they had their parliament and also they would have come across from Dublin where they ruled in the early days. It is most likely that some stayed or perhaps it was from the result was rape and pillage along the coastline of Anglesey.
Tue Apr 10 11:08:25 2007
Glyn Jones fron Newark
It would give more credence to this article if the supposed Viking's helmet didn't have horns.
I never heard of a Viking castle on Anglesey but Gruffudd ap Cynan had considerable help from the Viking community of Dublin to establish himself as Prince (King) of Gwynedd. Surely likely that some of them stayed there.
Thu Feb 23 13:52:18 2006
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