Surname Maurus - Meaning and Origin
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Maurus: What does the surname Maurus mean?
Maurus is an ancient Roman surname derived from the Latin word maurus, which means "dark skinned." The word was used to refer to people with darker skin tones from regions outside of the city of Rome in Ancient Roman times. In modern times, the Maurus surname is believed to primarily originate from Southeast Europe, specifically Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary, likely among descendants of Romanized Dacian and Thracian populations from the area.
The surname Maurus has also been associated with the Moors, an ancient North African civilization with Arab-Afro-Berber heritage living primarily in what is now Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco. During the Medieval and Early Modern period, the Moors occupied and conquered much of the Iberian Peninsula, including today's Spain and Portugal.
In Latin American countries and the Caribbean, the Maurus surname is believed to have derived from early Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian settlers of the 16th century. The surname today is still popular in Spain, Portugal, and various Latin American and Caribbean countries as a result.
Due to its multicultural sources of origin, the Maurus surname is a unique one that can trace its origins to both Ancient Rome and various other Mediterranean, African, and Latin American populations.
Order DNA origin analysisMaurus: Where does the name Maurus come from?
The last name Maurus is commonly found throughout the United States, Europe, and Australia. In the United States, the last name is most prevalent in California and New York, with the surname appearing frequently in San Francisco, Manhattan, Los Angeles, and other cities within those respective states. In Europe, the surname is most common in Germany, with concentrations in the regions of Bavaria, Hesse, and Thuringia. The surname is also found quite frequently in Austria, with a notable presence in Vienna, the nation's capital. The surname Maurus appears throughout the United Kingdom as well, though it is chiefly found in England and Wales. The last name is also present in Australia, with the highest concentrations located in New South Wales and Victoria. It is sometimes spelled differently, such as Mauris or Mauri, but its root is the same.
The exact origin of the surname Maurus is not known. The name may have been derived from the Roman family name Maurus, of which there were many prominent early branches of; the name could also be derived from the French word maurier, which translates to "dark skin." Regardless of its origin, the surname Maurus is now widely distributed and is one of the most common surnames in the world.
Variations of the surname Maurus
Maurus is a Latin surname associated with the Latin term for Moor, thus indicating an ethnic or racial origin. Countries where the surname is common include Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Romania, Italy, and the Czech Republic. Variants of the name include Maur,Moro, and Maurer.
In Germany, the variants of the name include Maurus, Mauering, Maurhoff, Maurer, Mauro, Maurice, Mauren, Maur, Maurse, Mauring, Maurca, Maurmann, Maurenhoff, Maurfacz, Maurhahn, Maurner, Moro, Morel, Morriel, Maurol, Morelle, Maurenz, Mauritz, Mauricez, Maurern, Basedow, Maurger, Maurgre, Maurpf, Mahren, Maurenbach, Maurfacz, Maurmann, and Maurner.
In Austria and Switzerland, the variants are Bal, Balke, Balz, Bauern, Baumann, Beiman, Bialek, Bialik, Biller, Blare, Blaske, Balcke, and Baum, or the more common variants Maurus, Mauro, Maurice, Mauren, Maur, Maurner, and Moro.
In Hungary, the variants are Maurer, Maoras, Maoros, Maoroz, Marasz, Moroz, and Maorosi. In Romania, similar surnames include Morozan, Moroscu, Morosan, and Marosan. In Italy, Maurus, Mauro, Maru, and Maures. In the Czech Republic, Maurus, Maurer, Mour, Maursky, and Mauren may be seen.
Famous people with the name Maurus
- Karl Maurus: Bavarian composer, conductor and associate director of the Allgäu Symphony Orchestra
- Bruno Maurus: Swiss opera singer and music pedagogue
- Konrad Maurus: Austrian actor
- Raphael Maurus: German pianist and organist
- Fritz Maurus: Austrian actor, director and screenwriter
- Franciscus Franciscus Maurus: German educator
- Matthias Maurus: Swiss Olympic athlete
- Johann Carl Maurus: German theologian and ecclesiastical historian
- Peter Maurus: Colombian-German physicist
- Jakob Maurus Nabholtz: Austrian violinist and composer