Caradog is a Welsh masculine given name, derived from the Old Welsh Caratauc, itself a Brythonic form of the ancient Celtic name Caratācos (Latinized as Caratacus). The name is composed of the Celtic root *kar- meaning 'love, friend' (cf. Welsh caru 'to love') plus a suffix; thus Caradog essentially means 'beloved' or 'amiable one'. The name has deep roots in Welsh history and legend. Historically, Caradog was borne by several notable figures, including an 8th-century king of Gwynedd, Caradog ap Meirion, and a 12th-century saint (Sant Caradog, a hermit and martyr). In medieval Welsh literature, Caradog is a son of Brân the Blessed. The most famous legendary Caradog, however, is Caradog Vreichvras (Caradog 'Strong-arms'), a Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian romance. Arthurian Tradition In the Matter of Britain, Caradog appears early in Welsh poems such as Pa gŵr yw'r porthor? ('Who is the gatekeeper?') from the Book of Taliesin. He later figures in the works of Chrétien de Troyes, particularly in Érec et Énide where he is called Caradeu le Grand and his wife is a dwarven queen (or, in other versions, a dog‑wife [Lafable] whose embrace is fatal unless the lover has not been unfaithful). This legend was elaborated in the French prose Lancelot-Grail cycle, making Caradog a minor but persistent Arthurian companion. Related Forms and Legacy The Welsh name Caradoc (with 'c' spelling) is an identical form. Feminine derivatives include Carys and Cerys. Related European forms include the English Cedric and its French variant Cédric, invented by Sir Walter Scott but etymologically unrelated to Caratācos; the other Celtic reflexes are Caratacus and Old Irish Carthach (McCarthy ultimately derives from this). In Anglo‑Saxon England, the related name Cerdic appears. Surnames such as Craddock and Cradock also present Anglicized derivatives of the name. Meaning: Beloved, dear (from Celtic *kar- 'to love') Origin: Welsh, ultimately Proto‑Celtic Type: Given name Usage Regions: Wales (historical and modern); Arthurian romance in Britain and France Related Names: Caradoc, Carys, Cerys, Caratacus, Cedric, Cédric, Cerdic, Carthach