Cerridwyn is a variant of Ceridwen, a figure from Welsh mythology. The name is most commonly associated with the enchantress Ceridwen, who appears in the medieval Welsh legend the Tale of Taliesin, recorded by Elis Gruffyd in the 16th century. According to the tale, Ceridwen was a sorceress who prepared a magical potion intended to bestow wisdom upon her son Morfran. However, the potion was inadvertently consumed by her servant Gwion Bach, who was then reborn as the celebrated bard Taliesin.
The name Ceridwen (and its variant Cerridwyn) has been interpreted as possibly deriving from cyrrid meaning "bent, crooked" (a derivative of Old Welsh cwrr "corner") combined with ben "woman" or gwen "white, blessed". Other theories connect her to an unattested Celtic goddess of inspiration and propose a relationship with Welsh cerdd "poetry". The name appears in early Welsh manuscripts: in the Black Book of Carmarthen as Kyrridven and in the Book of Taliesin as Kerrituen.
Cerridwyn is a feminine name used in Wales. It gained popularity among modern pagans who regard Ceridwen as a goddess of rebirth, transformation, and inspiration. While Cerridwyn is less common than the standard form Ceridwen, it remains a distinctive variant cherished for its mythical associations.
- Meaning: Possibly "bent woman" or "white woman/inspiration"
- Origin: Welsh
- Type: Given name (feminine)
- Usage Regions: Wales, English-speaking world in spiritual/neopagan contexts
Sources: Wikipedia — Ceridwen