Surname Mauritania - Meaning and Origin
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Mauritania: What does the surname Mauritania mean?
Mauritania is a last name with origins in the African country of the same name. Mauritania is a nation located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in Northwest Africa and borders with Algeria, Mali, and Senegal. The name Mauritania itself is derived from the ancient Roman term “Mauri Teneo,” which means “land of the Morris” and is a reference to the ancient group of Berbers who resided in the region.
In the 15th century, the arid desert and coastal areas of what is now Mauritania were collectively known as the “Timbuktu Sultanate” due to its strategic location along the lucrative trans-Saharan trade route. In the 18th century, the region was annexed by Morocco although it still continued to be referred to as Mauritania.
The surname Mauritania is likely derived from the region’s name and is associated with strength, resilience, and honor. It is a reminder that despite having been occupied and colonized by multiple European powers and having to face poverty and civil war, the nation of Mauritania is still determined to preserve its cultural heritage and traditions. It is a testimony to the courage and tenacity of its people and serves as a source of strength for Mauritania’s families and individuals.
Order DNA origin analysisMauritania: Where does the name Mauritania come from?
The last name Mauritania is most commonly associated with the West African country of the same name. It is the official name of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, a Saharan nation that became an independent country in 1960.
The name Mauritania is derived from the ancient Berber kingdom of Mauretania, which existed from the 3rd century BCE to the 7th century CE. The origin of the name is believed to be the Punic Mazaraat, which means “western” or “land of the Moors”.
Mauritania is a predominantly Muslim nation and most Mauritania citizens have the Moorish culture deeply ingrained in them. As a result, the last name Mauritania is still a quite common and popular surname in many Mauritanian ethnic groups. It is a common surname among many rulers, families, and tribes of the Islamic Republic. Besides being a common surname in Mauritania, it is also a fairly common surname throughout the Maghreb region of North Africa, as well as in some areas of the Middle East and West Africa.
Furthermore, Mauritania has a large population of expatriates living in countries around the world, such as France, Spain, Portugal, the United States, and Canada. As a result, the surname Mauritania can also be found in these countries, though it is likely to be less common than other surnames originating from these countries.
Variations of the surname Mauritania
The surname Mauritania has several variants and spellings associated with it, including Moritainia, Mordainia, Moriainia, Meritania, Meretania, Moriatania, Mauritanio, Maurirania, Mauritán, Meritano, Mauritain, Moritano, Maritani and Maritano.
Mauritania is derived from a Latin family name Marit clauses, which mean ‘mare’ or ‘sea’. The name is also Anglo-Norman and it is found in England from at least the 13th century. It was, however, rare in Manchester and Lancashire in the late 20th century. Other surnames of similar origin include Maritan, Maritano, Marimon, Maurício, Mariter, Mauritin, Mauricio, Meritano, Maritá, Maritini,Martizano, Marquez, and Murton.
The Mauritanian surname is distributed throughout the world, from Europe and the United States, to South America, Africa, and Asia. In the US, the earliest recording of the surname is in 1831, when a birth in New York is recorded as “Margaret Mauritio”. The surname has also been found in records over the following century, linking with the branches of the originally Spanish-American Chacon family.
As a result, the Mauritania surname is associated with a variety of countries and communities, including Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Irish, as well as Jewish. The surname is also found in early records in Latin American countries such as Peru, Colombia and Mexico.
In general, then, the Mauritania surname, in all of its different variations, has many origin stories and is prevalent in multiple locations worldwide.
Famous people with the name Mauritania
- Muhammad Ould Daddah: former President of Mauritania
- Cheikh Moussa Ould Bah: former Prime Minister of Mauritania
- Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi: former Prime Minister of Mauritania
- Ba Mamadou Moustafa Atelwa: former Prime Minister of Mauritania
- Ahmed Ould Daddah: former Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Haidallah Ould Al Wadj Ould Daddah: former Minister of Culture
- Ahmed Ould Limam: former Minister of Commerce
- Ahmed Salem Ould Shah: former Minister of Health
- Mohamed Abdel Kader Ould Merzak: former Minister of Information and Telecommunications
- Ahmed Ould Bestane: Mauritanian archaeologist
- Bintou Diallo: Mauritanian singer
- Abu Zayd al-Mauritani: Saharan Moroccan singer
- Ahmida Ould Mohamed: Mauritanian footballer
- Megahertz Ould Bah: Mauritanian poet and playwright
- Ramatoulaye Diallo: Mauritanian documentarist