Moon
An English surname that can come from the word for the moon, but in some cases it is a reduced form of Mohun/Mohon.
The #758 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 6,781 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname has more than one possible origin. Some bearers may have taken it from the Old English word for the moon, or from a sign, emblem, or house name showing a moon. Other cases are better explained as a shortened or altered form of the French name Mohun/Mohon, a Norman surname found in place-names in France. The sources also suggest that some medieval spellings were flexible enough for these forms to merge.
History
Medieval records show forms such as de Mooun and later Moon alongside Mohun, which supports the idea that the two surnames became confused or merged in England. In later English usage, Moon also appears as an independent surname and as one of several surnames derived from natural objects or signs. The name is now common in English-speaking countries, especially in the United States, Britain, and Australia.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Lower specifically links a 1300 Roll of Carlaverock form, John de Mooun, with John de Mohun, showing how medieval spelling could blur the line between distinct surnames.
From the historical record
“See Mody. MOON (Eng.) a name derived from a trade or armorial sign [O.E. mdnal Cp. the corresponding German Mond. (Fr.) Bel. to IVloon, Mohun or Mohon (France). There is a Moon in the Manche Dept. (Normandy) ; and there is a Mohon in the Ardennes Dept. and in the Morbihau”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)