Cornish History, Language, and Identity

When talking about Cornwall, it is important to understand the origin of the name itself. In the 1st century AD, when the Romans occupied much of southern Britain, Cornwall was known as Cornubia. The Cornoviii tribe lived on this land. The name Cornovii or Cornubia is most likely derived from the Brittonic word ‘corn’, meaning horn, horn of the land, or end of the land.

The Romans arrived in England in 43 BC with the Roman emperor Claudius’ invasion. While there is evidence of the 400 year presence of the Romans across much of Britain, their presence in Cornwall is a topic shrouded in mystery. The few Roman sites in Cornwall suggest that, for one reason or another, they did not push themselves upon the western tip of Britain. Perhaps this was due to the harshness and exposure of Dartmoor or the twisting tidal Tamar River valley.

Archaeological Evidence of Roman Cornwall

However, there is some evidence of this great empire in Cornwall. Archaeologists have confirmed Roman coins in Iron Age burial sites and have found a 2nd century Roman villa as far into the region as Camborne. Yet, for the most part, Cornwall remained largely unhindered by any attempt to dominate. That is until the trading of copper and tin became of substantial commercial value in the 3rd and 4th centuries. Valuable materials throughout much of history, this led to the increased development of settlements.

Stories shape Cornwall and those who live there; these tales connect people to the landscape and form a strong sense of identity. Strong Celtic roots run through the blood of the people who work the land and the sea surrounding it.

The Cornish rebellion of 1497

The Cornish have always been rebellious. It is not uncommon to hear of the gallant efforts of Cornish farmers and fishermen storming the Thames to fight for their rights. The rebellion of 1497, in the time of Henry VII’s rule, is an example of Cornish pride and anti-English morals. Cornish men marched as far as the outskirts of London to protest high tax enforcement. They aimed to regain their semi-autonomous status, which King Henry had taken away.

Although the Cornish didn’t win the battle, they did regain their rights to semi-autonomy and lower tax brackets. This consolidated feeling of independence and identity, which is still upheld today, can be seen in the Cornish flag. Flying high, the black and white cross celebrates the patron saint of Cornwall, St Piran.

The Reformation

On a later occasion, in 1549, King Edward VI introduced the Act of Uniformity, which brought with it the Prayer Book Rebellion. The act outlawed all languages other than English, and all Bibles throughout the country were only to be printed in English. The Cornish tried to fight back against this as it alienated the Cornish people. Many of the residents couldn’t speak or read English. A group attempted to march in protest, which led to an unfortunate end and resulted in the English language bibles being forced upon them. This contributed to the demise of the Cornish language and identity.

The Cornish language is a large part of the Cornish identity. Much like that of its Celtic familiars, such as Wales, or Breton in northwest France, the roots of the language are in ancient Brythonic.

The Cornish language remains at the root of place names throughout Cornwall. The last fluent speaker of the original Cornish language was possibly Dolly Pentreath, a fish wife from Mousehole who died in 1777. However, this cannot be confirmed.

The Cornish Revival

The language lives on today, with 515 people in the 2011 census declaring their primary language as ‘Cornish’. In 2023, the language had its most significant revival yet with a yearly spoken word and music festival and a website, Kowethas an Yeth Kernewek. This can’t be mentioned without raising a glass and thanking the efforts of Henry Jenner and William Borlase. In the 18th century, the pair became interested in the language and culture, and they are almost entirely responsible for the preservation of it today.