Why not “Rhuthun”?

Preface: Microsoft Word spellchecker recognises Caernarfon and Dolgellau, plus both Conwy and Conway, but suggests Ruthann for Rhuthun. Streetmap and Google Local recognise Rhuthun but Multimap doesn’t.

Why is it that Rhuthun is so often referred to as “Ruthin”? Why not adopt one spelling only – just Rhuthun? Wouldn’t it make life easier?

After all, no one spells Dolgellau, as once was the fashion, as “Dolgethley” or “Dolgelley” (there was until recently a shop sign referring to this now-defunct anglicised version). No one types “Conway”, and “Caernarvon” & “Carnarvon” have both faded off the map.

And, Rhuthun isn’t like Yr Wyddgrug/Mold or Llanelwy/St Asaph, where one version is so different to the other.

So, why not say cheerio to “Ruthin”? This is in no way anti the English language. It's not designed to be controversial. It just reflects the culture and history of the town.

One reason for the ascendancy of Ruthin rather than Rhuthun is that monoglot English people cannot pronounce Rhuthun so well, so they perceive. But many from outside the area struggle with “Ruthin”, enunciating it as Ruth-the-girl’s-name followed by Inn; or ruth pronounced as is cut, son or rough.

Since Rhuthun and Ruthin are actually pronounced the same (save for the aspirate “Rh”), should the town council develop, campaign for and support a Rhuthun-only policy? That way, slowly, Rhuthun rather than Ruthin would become the default spelling of our town and, like Conwy and Caernarfon, it will take exclusive hold.

Should, then, we use Rhuthun in all circumstances and situations where once we may have used Ruthin? Whether we speak Welsh, English or both, it’s our heritage and culture.