Seiriol
masculine; pr. sɛirjɔl; meaning: shining; bright one
detailed pronunciation
s = as in see
ei (ɛi) = ai, as in pain
r = as in right
i (j) = y, as in you
o (ɔ) = as in off
l = as in like
The meaning of Seiriol is regarded as “shining; bright one” but the etymological root is not identified. Seiriol may originate from serennu (to shine) + the adjective suffix -iol, or Seiriol may have a connection to eirian (bright) + -iol. Alternatively, Seiriol may share a Celtic root with the Gaelic name [name_f]Sorcha[/name_f] as they share the exact same meaning with no discernible origin.
Notable People
Seiriol ap Gwrwst ap Rhiwallon
He is listed as a link between Aedd Mawr and Gwrwst ap Rhiwallon (Gurgustius, son of Rivallo) by [name_m]Geoffrey[/name_m] of Monmouth. He may be the same person as Seisyll ap Gwrwst, a fictitious king of [name_m]Britain[/name_m] (735-721BC).
Seiriol ab [name_m]Owain[/name_m] Danwyn (470AD)
A 6th century saint of Penmon, Anglesey, and the son of [name_m]King[/name_m] [name_m]Owain[/name_m] Danwayn of Rhos. He was named as one of “The [name_m]Seven[/name_m] [name_f]Happy[/name_f] Cousins” and is commemorated on 1st [name_f]February[/name_f].
According to legend, Seiriol was good friends with [name_m]Saint[/name_m] [name_m]Cybi[/name_m] and they would frequently meet near Llanerchymedd. [name_m]Saint[/name_m] [name_m]Cybi[/name_m] would walk from Holyhead, facing the sun, and Seiriol would walk from Penmon with his back to the sun. This led to them acquiring the monikers [name_m]Cybi[/name_m] Felyn (Cybi the tanned) and Seiriol [name_m]Wyn[/name_m] (Seiriol the fair). Today, the supposed path that Seiriol walked is permamently etched into the landscape, but only visible duting low tide. The path is known as “the king’s highway”.
In his later years, Seiriol retired to Ynys Lannog, which became known as Ynys Seiriol in his honour. The island was later renamed Priestholm by the vikings, before becoming Puffin [name_f]Island[/name_f] (as it is known today) in the 19th centuty.
Although Seiriol’s name was removed from the name of the island, he is still honoured today. The Russian Orthodox Diocese of Sourozh of Great [name_m]Britain[/name_m] and [name_f]Ireland[/name_f] hold an annual pilgrimage to the [name_f]Holy[/name_f] Well of St. Seiriol in Penmon. Additionally, there is a tram (no.6) on the Great [name_m]Orme[/name_m] tramway named after him.
The first official recorded use of Seiriol as a given name is 1891, and the most recent recorded use is 1992. Seiriol has not appeared in official statistics since records began.
Although Seiriol is considered a masculine name, it has seen occasional use as a feminine name, mostly since the 1990’s. This is likely due to its similarity to the feminine names Seirial and Siriol.