Meaning & History
Gronw is a masculine given name of Welsh origin, deeply rooted in the mythology of the Mabinogi. Its meaning is uncertain, but some scholars suggest it may derive from the Old Welsh element gur meaning "man".
Mythological Significance
Gronw appears prominently in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, the medieval Welsh prose collection. He is the lover of Blodeuwedd, a woman created from flowers by the magicians Math and Gwydion. Together they plot to kill her husband, Lleu Llaw Gyffes (. Gronw crafts a special spear over the course of a year, as Lleu can only be killed with a weapon made during a certain time. However, when Gronw strikes, Lleu transforms into an eagle and escapes. Eventually, Gwydion restores Lleu to human form, and Lleu kills Gronw with the same spear, but Gronw is allowed to hold a stone between himself and the weapon, which is pierced through.
Related Forms
A variant of Gronw is Goronwy, which is used as a given name in Wales and shares the mythological association.
- Meaning: Possibly "man" (from Old Welsh gur)
- Origin: Welsh mythology (Mabinogi)
- Type: Legendary hero
- Usage: Welsh (historical and mythological)