A person from Cardiff is called a 'Cardiffian' so I don't see any reason not to call someone from Penarth a Penarthian! I am from Hyde and am a 'Hydonian' so it seems to follow!
Posts: 7954 | Location: Hyde.Cheshire. UK | Registered: 10-18-02
KK and Jenny are correct. Somebody from Penarth is a Penarthian and South Walians sometimes speak of having Penarthian family and so on. Can't say you'll hear it said much down that way though; it's easier to say 'from Penarth'. The local college's magazine is 'Y Penarthian' ('The Penarthian' in Welsh ) which emphasises the point. The word Penarthian is an English construction, though not as bad to Welsh ears as Cardiffian ( Cardiff is Caerdydd in Welsh). Although 'arth' looks odd in a Welsh name; 'th' is normally written 'dd'; the word is in fact the Welsh for bear and seems an exception, so the place is the top or head(land) of the bear, perhaps from the shape of a local promontory.
