 The name means 'long ("hir") bridge ("pont")' and refers to a previous bridge over the River Llwyd, the present one having been built in 1800.Ponthir is primarily a residential area, with several new housing estates around the older village.It has a primary school, (Ponthir Church in Wales Primary School) which was for some time under threat of closure but was reprieved, and it now has the best SATs results in Torfaen.