Emlyn was one of the seven cantrefi of Dyfed

Kingdom of Dyfed

The Kingdom of Dyfed is one of several Welsh petty kingdoms that emerged in 5th-century post-Roman Britain in south-west Wales, based on the former Irish tribal lands of the Déisi from c 350 until it was subsumed into Deheubarth in 920. In Latin, the country of the Déisi was Demetae, eventually to...

, an ancient district of Wales

Wales

Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...

. It subsequently became part of Deheubarth in around 950. It consisted of the northern part of Dyfed bordering on the River Teifi

River Teifi

The River Teifi forms the boundary between the counties of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire in south-west Wales for most of its 75 mile length, flowing into the sea below the town of Cardigan. The catchment of the river is estimated to be 1,008 square kilometres yielding an average flow at Glan...

. Its southern boundary followed the ridge of the line of hills separating the Teifi valley from the valleys of the Tâf

River Tâf

The River Tâf is a river that rises in the Preseli Hills of North Pembrokeshire, West Wales, near the village of Crymych and is around 50 km long....

 and Tywi

River Tywi

With a total length of the River Towy is the longest river flowing entirely within Wales, and is noted for its sea trout and salmon fishing.The river rises within of the Teifi on the lower slopes of Crug Gynan in the Cambrian Mountains and, flowing through the Towy Forest, forms the border...

.

The name derives from am (around, on both sides of) and glyn (valley), the valley in question being presumably the Cuch. Its area was about 217 km². It was divided by the River Cuch

Afon Cych

Afon Cych is a small river tributary to the River Teifi in south-west Wales. Its "official" source is at Blaencych . It flows north-westwards through a deep, wooded, secluded valley, and joins the River Teifi at Abercych . Its total length is 13 km...

 into the commotes of Emlyn Is Cuch

Cilgerran (hundred)

thumb|200px|right|Pembrokeshire showing Cilgerran HundredThe Hundred of Cilgerran was a hundred in the north of Pembrokeshire, Wales...

 (to the west) and Emlyn Uwch Cuch to the east. Its civil headquarters were divided between Cilgerran

Cilgerran

Cilgerran is a town in the Hundred of Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire, Wales, lying on the River Teifi. It is the site of Cilgerran Castle, built in 1100, from which Owain of Powys is said to have abducted Nest in 1109. It is first mentioned by name in 1164...

 in the lower commote and Newcastle Emlyn

Newcastle Emlyn

Newcastle Emlyn is a town straddling the counties of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire in west Wales and lying on the River Teifi.Adpar is the part of the town that lies on the Ceredigion side of the River Teifi...

 in the upper. Its ecclesiastical centre (and perhaps, in the Age of the Saints, the seat of a bishop) was the church of St Llawddog at Cenarth

Cenarth

Cenarth is a village, parish and community in Carmarthenshire, adjoining the Cenarth Falls, bordering Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, West Wales.- Location :...

.

The cantref was made part of the Norman

Normans

The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...

 March

Welsh Marches

The Welsh Marches is a term which, in modern usage, denotes an imprecisely defined area along and around the border between England and Wales in the United Kingdom. The precise meaning of the term has varied at different periods...

 in the 12th century, and many castles were built, including those of Cilgerran

Cilgerran Castle

Cilgerran Castle is a 13th-century ruined castle located in Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire, Wales, near Cardigan.The castle is a National Trust property, in the guardianship of Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments Executive Agency....

 and Newcastle Emlyn

Newcastle Emlyn Castle

Newcastle Emlyn Castle, in the town of Newcastle Emlyn in Carmarthenshire, Wales.The ruined 13th-century castle, mentioned in Brut y Tywysogion in 1215, when it was seized by Llewelyn the Great . . It was recaptured by English forces in 1288, bringing Rhys ap Maredudd's revolt to an end...

. Nevertheless, the area remained Welsh

Welsh language

Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...

 speaking, as it continues today.

At the time of the Acts of Union, the cantref was split between the newly-formed counties, when Emlyn Is Cuch became Cilgerran

Cilgerran (hundred)

thumb|200px|right|Pembrokeshire showing Cilgerran HundredThe Hundred of Cilgerran was a hundred in the north of Pembrokeshire, Wales...

 hundred, Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....

 and Emlyn Uwch Cuch was merged into Elfed

Elvet (hundred)

Elvet was a hundred, a geographic division, in the traditional county of Carmarthenshire, Wales....

 hundred, Carmarthenshire

Carmarthenshire

Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...

. Its name lives on in several local placenames, including Newcastle Emlyn.