[3] The village and civil parish took their English name from the family of Lupus (Wolf) or Lovel, who were lords of the manor in the 13th and 14th century.
[4] The official Welsh name, Llanwynell, also found on many maps, is derived from the name of the reputed Saint Gwynell, noted by Lewys Dynn as "Syr Vwniel L. of(f) Wolffs Newton(,) Knight.
[4] The village is located to the north of Wentwood, which in Norman times covered a larger area than today.
[6] Forest clearances under the Normans led to the establishment of several other "new" villages in the area around the same time, such as Shirenewton about 4 miles (6.4 km) to the south.
[7] The parish church is dedicated to St Thomas à Becket who had been killed in 1170 and was canonised three years later.