Page "Mozarab" Paragraph 37

The use of Arabic cognomens by the Mozarab communities of Al-Andalus is emblematic of the adoption by the Christians of the outward manifestations of Arab Islamic culture.

The Mozarabs employed Arabic-style names such as Zaheid ibn Zafar, Pesencano ibn Azafar, Ibn Gafif, Ibn Gharsiya ( Garcia ), Ibn Mardanish ( Martinez ), Ibn Faranda ( Fernandez ), in purely Christian contexts.

This demonstrates that they had acculturated thoroughly and that their Arabic names were not mere aliases adopted to facilitate their movement within Muslim society.

Conversely, some Christian names such as Lope and Fortun entered the local Arabic lexicon ( Lubb and Fortun ), and others were adopted in translated form ( such as Sa ' ad for Felix ).

In the witness lists, Mozarabs identified themselves with undeniably Islamic names such as al-Aziz, and Ibn Uthman.

Several Mozarabs also used the name Al-Quti ( The Goth ), and some may have been actual descendants from the family of the Pre-Islamic Visigothic Christian king, Wittiza.