ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2977
http://www.s-gabriel.org/2977
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3 Jan 2005
From: sheri 


Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel!

You wanted to know if <Simon> is an appropriate name
for an English man between 1100 and 1300, and if <Maurus>
is an appropriate byname in this period. Here is the information 
we found.

<Simon> is an excellent choice. Examples from England in your
period include [1]:

  Simon                      1134-40
  Symon de Cheurolcurt       c.1150
  William le fiz Simon       reign of Henry II

<Maurus> is the Latin translation of "Moor"; it appears in 12th
century Latin records from England, for example in the name
<Hugo Maurus> 1186. It's a fine name, but Latin was generally
only a written language. In spoken English, the surname was
<Mor>, as in the examples <William Mor> 1198, <Osbert Mor>
1227, <Thomas le Mor> 1201, and <Hugh le Mor> 1205. The meaning
is "swarthy as a Moor; a Moor". [2]

Therefore <Simon Mor> or <Simon le Mor> are excellent choices
for an English name in the 12th or 13th century. The name might
have been written <Simon Maurus>.

We have found no evidence that any form of <Simon> was used
by Muslims, so we do not think this is a likely first name for an
actual Moor in your period. The English byname <Mor> was
clearly used to describe someone who was like a Moor, either in
complexion or behavior.

We hope that this letter has been useful to you and that you won't
hesitate to write us again if any part was unclear or if we can
be of further assistance. Research and commentary on this letter
was provided by Arval Benicoeur, Aryanhwy merch Catmael, Gunnvor
Silfraharr, and Talan Gwynek.

For the Academy,
Mor inghean Chathail
3 January 2005

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References

[1] Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_
(London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press,
1995), s.n. Simon.

[2] ibid. s.n. Moor