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Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel!
You asked for information on the German name "Moritz". Here is what we have found.
<Moritz> or <Mauritz> is a German form of the Latin <Mauritus>, a saint's name. The form <Mauricius> is recorded in the 12th century [3], and a man named <Hans Moriz> is mentioned in 15th century documents [4]. <Moritz> was used by a Prince Elector of Saxony in the 16th century, and we found other 16th century examples [1, 2].
<Moritz> was also used to render the names of Jews called <Moses> [1], perhaps following the pattern of equating a Hebrew name to a similar-sounding name in the common language.
Forms of <Moritz> were in use for the late five centuries of our period, although we have documented this particular spelling only in the 16th century.
I hope this letter has been useful. Please write us again if any part of it has been unclear or if you have other questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Talan Gwynek and Madawc.
For the Academy,
Arval Benicoeur
References
[1] Bahlow, Hans, Dictionary of German Names, tr. Edda Gentry
(German-American Cultural Society, 1994 ISBN: 0924119357).
[2] Hellfritzsch, Volkmar, Vogtlaendische Personennamen (Berlin:
Akademie-Verlag, 1969).
[3] Adolf Socin, Mittelhochdeutsches Namenbuch. Nach oberrheinischen
Quellen des 12. und 13. Jahrhunderts (Basel: Helbing &Lichtenhahn, 1903).
[4] Josef Karlmann Brechenmacher, Etymologisches Worterbuch der deutschen
familiennamen (Limburg a. d. Lahn, C. A. Starke, 1957).