Centuries ago, the Moon's phases had far greater significance than today and it has always been a source of pagan imagery. In farming, April has the Seed Moon which heralds the time for planting. August has the Corn Moon when the crops swell and September has the Harvest Moon.
Because the population were once so attuned to the seasons, many pagan images make it onto pub signs - for example, the Sun and the Green Man.
The 9th Earl of Northumberland was a gifted astronomer who mapped the moon in the 16th Century, long before Galileo. The Percy crest carries a white crescent or half moon and pubs close to Percy estates could take the name as a mark of homage.
However, pubs may take the name of Moon simply because it's such an easy image to draw on a sign and instantly recognisable.
Summarised from A Book About Pub Names by Elaine Saunders. Available here.
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