Bargoed's name has been the subject of some "misunderstanding and messing-about". Name reckoned derived, originally and pure-ly, from the adjacent River Bargoed; which name is itself based on the Welsh word bargod = border, boundary. Settlement's original name therefrom, Bargod; was modified to Bargoed from the 16th century on: reckoned probably a "hypercorrection", influenced by another Welsh word coed = trees, woods. Another "B-place" not far away -- Bedwas, also in Caerphilly County Borough -- has featured in rather similar nomenclatorial antics. Bedwas is mentioned in the book Wild Wales, by the 19th-century travel writer George Borrow. Borrow somewhat gives the impression of having been one of those people who consider themselves to know everything about everything; however, his Bedwas reference is seen as giving the lie to that. In the book, Borrow asserts that the settlement's name comes from bettws = "prayer house". Scholars on these matters, opine that "Bedwas" actually means "grove, bank, or place of birch trees".