Mauricio

Mauricio is the Spanish form of a Late Latin name Mauricius which is a derivative of Maurus. Maurus was used as a nickname of sorts to indicate a Moor considered ‘dark, swarthy’. The Moors were Muslims from northern Africa who came to conquer and occupy the Iberian Peninsula for hundreds of years starting in the 8th century. Although the word ‘swarthy’ has negative connotations today, originally it was meant to indicate a dark complexion or weather-beaten face (more of a physical attribute of the Moors compared to the lighter complexions of Western Europeans). The name was born by a 6th century Byzantine emperor who successfully defeated the Persians and expanded the empire further east. Maurice was brought to England by the Normans in medieval times when the name generated adequate success but then fell from popularity by the 17th century. It regained status again in the mid 1800s to mid 1900s but then fell from favor again in the latter half of the 20th century. The Spanish and Portuguese version of Mauricio has fared a bit better.