# Simon Bar Sinister

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-bar-sinister/626986>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [July 2, 2012, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-bar-sinister/626986 "2012-07-02T07:48:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-bar-sinister/626986/21 "2019-01-25T23:28:15Z")

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> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#):
>
> So, was Simon Bar Sinister Jewish?

No particular clues to point in that direction. Bar Sinister as a name is described above, I’m pretty sure Lionel Barrymore the model was not Jewish and Simon as a name is nowhere near exclusively associated with being Jewish. Witness that diligently pious oppressor of Jews [Simon de Montfort](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_de_Montfort,_6th_Earl_of_Leicester#Expulsion_of_Jews_from_Leicester).

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**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-bar-sinister/626986/22 "2019-01-26T00:07:16Z")

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> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#):
>
> So, was Simon Bar Sinister Jewish?

Maybe, maybe not.

However, the name is reminiscent of [Simon bar Kokhba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_bar_Kokhba), who definitely was.

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**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-bar-sinister/626986/23 "2019-01-26T00:35:35Z")

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In heraldry there is no such thing as a Bar Sinister (a bar is horizontal). There is a “Bend Sinister” which does (sometimes) indicate bastardy.

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**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-bar-sinister/626986/24 "2019-01-26T00:46:34Z")

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> [@Andy\_L](#):
>
> In heraldry there is no such thing as a Bar Sinister (a bar is horizontal). There is a “Bend Sinister” which does (sometimes) indicate bastardy.

Technically you are correct( the best kind of correct 😉 ), however the term has been in [common usage for some time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bend_(heraldry)#%22Bar_sinister).

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