Maurus

Maurus is a masculine given name of Latin origin, derived from the word maurus, meaning “dark-skinned” or “Moor.” The name was used in late antiquity and the Middle Ages across Western Europe and has appeared in various languages and forms. In religious contexts, Maurus is associated with early Christian traditions and monastic life.

Saint Maurus was an early Benedictine monk venerated in Western Christianity. He is regarded as one of Saint Benedict’s earliest companions and a model of monastic discipline. In medieval hagiography, he is credited with aiding the growth of the Benedictine order, and his cult spread to many churches and monasteries named after him across Europe.

As a given name, Maurus appears infrequently today, typically in ecclesiastical or historical contexts. It remains more common in regions with strong Catholic or Orthodox traditions, where the name is tied to its saintly associations and to historical references within monastic communities.