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ArchivesSaint Surnames?
What are the origins of Saint surnames (e.g., Saint James, Saint Julian)? I assume they are English in origin, but how were they assigned?
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A man named Julian becomes a saint, he is Saint Julian. Many early saints belong to an era when surnames were rare, so just Saint X. In the case of James there are several of that given name, so some distinction is necessary - James the Greater, James the Lesser, etc.
If a later saint had a surname that would be added, e.g., Saint Maria Goretti.
If a later saint had a surname that would be added, e.g., Saint Maria Goretti.
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