While the original invaders spoke Norman French, the Cambro-Norman settlements in Wales became English speaking communities.
Some Irish historians prefer to use this term instead of Anglo-Norman because many of the knights who invaded Ireland in 1170, such as the FitzGeralds, originated from and settled in modern-day Wales, following the Norman conquest.
[1] South Wales was under Anglo-Norman, Plantagenet control at this point in history and the Cambro-Normans living in south Wales owed their allegiance to Henry II, from Le Mans and not a native Welsh prince, and therefore are often confused with Anglo-Normans due to their allegiance.
Contemporary Irish accounts of this period erroneously called the incomers Saxain, which means "Saxon", i.e.
[2] In addition to such Cambro-Norman lords, some of Ireland's most common names, including Walsh and Griffith, came from indigenous Welsh families who came with the Norman invasion.