The very label Saracen encoded a charge of genealogical imposture from birth

Evidence

Saracens [Saraceni] are so called, either because they claim to be born from Sarah or because (as the pagans say) they are of Syrian origin, like the Syrigenes [Syriginae]. They live in a vast desert. They are also called the Ishmaelites, as Genesis teaches, because they are from Ishmael. Or [they are called] Cedar from the name of Ishmael’s son. They are also called Hagarens [Agareni] from Hagar. They are, as we said, erroneously called Saracens, because they falsely pride themselves on being descendants of Sarah” (Etymologies, 9:2:57). — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1410

Categorization

• QUESTION: Isidore hedges with several competing etymologies (Sarah, Syrian origin, Cedar, Hagar) yet still lands on the loading ‘falsely pride themselves.’ Worth chasing how the falsification claim came to dominate over the neutral alternatives.