The village was named in English after the now-closed Cemmes Road station on the Newtown and Machynlleth Railway, now part of the Cambrian Line.

The historic Mathafarn Hall is less than 1⁄2 mile north-west of Cemmaes Road.

An electoral ward in the Welsh name exists, which also covers the neighbouring community of Cadfarch.

[2] According to the 2001 census, 58.5% of the people in the community can speak the Welsh language.

The age group with the highest number of Welsh speakers is the 15-year-olds, where every 15-year-old could speak the language.