Mauro/Mario

[darkerhorse]

I know that Mauro and Mario are different names. I believe Mauro derives from the word for dark or black, possibly North African or Arab in origin, while Mario derives from the word for sea. Of course, there's also Maura/Maria.

I have at least one relative in my family tree who appears to have been named Mauro at birth in Sicily c.1895, but used the name Mario in the U.S. Several ancestors before him were named Mauro but none were named Mario in my family.

Has anyone had a similar experience with these names?

[mmogno]

I believe Mauro derives from the word for dark or black, possibly North African or Arab in origin,
Mauro means "native of Mauritania", the ancient Morocco.
https://www.nostrofiglio.it/nomi/mauro

while Mario derives from the word for sea.
No, Mario means "officiating priest" or "strong".
https://www.nostrofiglio.it/nomi/mario

[darkerhorse]

When Mario is the male version of Maria it would derive from the Latin maris (sea). So, the sea is one meaning, probably used in Italy.

https://ohbabynames.com/all-baby-names/mario/

[darkerhorse]

In any case, given they are different names, my main interest is in whether anyone else has seen them used interchangeably.

[darkerhorse]

Mario seems much more common than Mauro in America. Same with Maria over Maura.

In my home region of Sicily you hardly ever see Mario but Mauro is common. I suspect Mario is more common on the mainland.

[MarcuccioV]

I can't answer your question directly, but...

I have a cousin 'Mario', born here in the US, from my dad's side. Son of one of the "olive" brothers. Mother was from Cassino. 'Mario' was his given name, which he still uses.

Oftentimes Italian immigrants modified their names upon US arrival. My grandfather (born Agostino) first used "Augusto", then later "August". He never went by Agostino here.

My BFF's father (Sicilian, born in Louisiana to parents from Mezzojuso) was named "Loresto" but went by "Tony". He named his 1st son Anthony.

Since "Mauro" has a connotation of "Moorish", it's possible he changed it to avoid ridicule or other unacceptance (those were different times). "Mario" would still allow an Italian identification without the baggage. All speculation, of course.

I suppose he could have used "Maurice" (the Latin/French version), but may have preferred Mario to keep an Italian identity.

There's also the possibility it kept getting mispronounced so he just went with the easier pronunciation...

[darkerhorse]

"Melaninuccio" - I'm not surprised you worked in olive skin.

I wonder how long it will take before "Joe" posts maps?

[MarcuccioV]

"Melaninuccio" - I'm not surprised you worked in olive skin.

I wonder how long it will take before "Joe" posts maps?

LOL, I was hoping you would catch that. It WAS intentional. Anyhow, maps aside, it is possible that one of the local towns in the Siracusa environs had a patronage to St Maurus, which might also explain the popularity of the name.

I guess why he took on "Mario" may remain a mystery -- maybe due to a lack of melanin...

[darkerhorse]

I was also wondering whether the name Mauro, which goes back to the mid-1700s in my direct paternal ancestry, was an indication of Moorish ancestry. Cousins who have had DNA tests show a percentage of North African ancestry. In addition to dark skin, is frizzy hair common among Moors?

[darkerhorse]

frizzy and/or kinky

[MarcuccioV]

I was also wondering whether the name Mauro, which goes back to the mid-1700s in my direct paternal ancestry, was an indication of Moorish ancestry. Cousins who have had DNA tests show a percentage of North African ancestry. In addition to dark skin, is frizzy hair common among Moors?

I found this in a "Moorish hair type" internet search:

"Physical Traits:
Bronze brown skin, wavy to tight-curly hair. Medium height, mildly brachyskelic, mesomorph to ectomorph. Dolichocephalic, orthocranic, and relatively low faced. The nose is pointed and of variable width, often mildly leptorrhine. Lips are thick. Not stabilised with variable features."

I'd say it's very likely the name originated possibly with a Moorish ancestor, or the St Maurus example I gave above...