1. March 12, 2012Dina M. Layton1 The Roman Naming System

2. March 12, 2012Dina M. Layton2 What’s in a Name? Regal and Republican PeriodsRegal and Republican Periods 99% of Roman Males share the same 17 names99% of Roman Males share the same 17 names Only singular names were in useOnly singular names were in use First born males always named after fatherFirst born males always named after father Only names sanctioned by family could be usedOnly names sanctioned by family could be used The Legendary Romulus and Remus The Rape of Lucretia The Servian Wall

3. March 12, 2012Dina M. Layton3 The Roman Naming System Mid-Republic, the Romans developed a naming system that required all males to have two names PRAENOMEN NOMENCOGNOMENAGNOMEN There are four components to the Roman Naming System

4. March 12, 2012Dina M. Layton4 Praenomen A male’s first nameA male’s first name Chosen from a list of 17 personal namesChosen from a list of 17 personal names Included names such as Lucius, Marcus, and GaiusIncluded names such as Lucius, Marcus, and Gaius

5. March 12, 2012Dina M. Layton5 Nomen Clan or gensClan or gens Wider family name Identified the group of families to which a person belonged Outside family unit, men were addressed by both namesOutside family unit, men were addressed by both names Example: Julius derives from the clan name JulianExample: Julius derives from the clan name Julian

6. March 12, 2012Dina M. Layton6 Cognomen SurnameSurname Often descriptiveOften descriptive Nickname directly related to physical appearanceNickname directly related to physical appearance Name used to indicate a specific family within a clanName used to indicate a specific family within a clan Sons inherited father’s cognomenSons inherited father’s cognomen

7. March 12, 2012Dina M. Layton7 Agnomen Similar to the cognomenSimilar to the cognomen Used to commemorate prestigious deeds and achievementsUsed to commemorate prestigious deeds and achievements Victory titles Could have more than oneCould have more than one Sons also inherited father’s agnomenSons also inherited father’s agnomen

8. March 12, 2012Dina M. Layton8 Naming System and Social Structure Names were used as symbols of social statusNames were used as symbols of social status Naming practices varied for different groupsNaming practices varied for different groups MenMen Aristocratic elitesAristocratic elites CommonersCommoners WomenWomen SlavesSlaves FreedmenFreedmen

9. March 12, 2012Dina M. Layton9 Roman Men Aristocratic EliteAristocratic Elite Cognomens and agnomens reserved for elites Distinguished themselves from the commons and other aristocratic families CommonersCommoners Were given a praenomen and a nomen Adopted MalesAdopted Males Adoption common in Rome Adopted son/grandson took his adopted father’s praenomen, nomen, and cognomen, adding his former nomen +anus at the end of his new name

10. March 12, 2012Dina M. Layton10 The Importance of the Roman Name For the artistocratic elite and those in power a name could be seen as a resume of deeds and achievementsFor the artistocratic elite and those in power a name could be seen as a resume of deeds and achievements “My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.”“My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.” Gladiator (2000)Gladiator (2000)

11. March 12, 2012Dina M. Layton11 Roman Women Until marriage, women only had one nameUntil marriage, women only had one name At birth, women were given the feminine form of their father’s nameAt birth, women were given the feminine form of their father’s name All daughters within a family unit had the same nameAll daughters within a family unit had the same name Adjectives such as Major/Minor and Elder/Younger were used to indicate birth orderAdjectives such as Major/Minor and Elder/Younger were used to indicate birth order

12. March 12, 2012Dina M. Layton12 Roman Slaves Slaves could be named in one of several waysSlaves could be named in one of several ways Where they were fromWhere they were from A slave from Britania was called BritanicusA slave from Britania was called Britanicus The possessive form of their owner’s nameThe possessive form of their owner’s name Caesaris after his owner CaesarCaesaris after his owner Caesar A personality traitA personality trait Felix meaning “the lucky one”Felix meaning “the lucky one” The work that they didThe work that they did

13. March 12, 2012Dina M. Layton13 Roman Freedmen Freedmen took their former owner’s praenomen and nomenFreedmen took their former owner’s praenomen and nomen Freedmen could have a cognomen of their ownFreedmen could have a cognomen of their own

14. March 12, 2012Dina M. Layton14 Using the Roman Naming System Publius Cornelius Scipio AfricanusPublius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Praenomen – PubliusPraenomen – Publius Nomen – Cornelius – from the Cornelia clanNomen – Cornelius – from the Cornelia clan Cognomen – Scipio – indicated immediate family nameCognomen – Scipio – indicated immediate family name Agnomen – Africanus – given this name at his Triumph to commemorate his victory over Hannibal at Carthage, North AfricaAgnomen – Africanus – given this name at his Triumph to commemorate his victory over Hannibal at Carthage, North Africa

15. March 12, 2012Dina M. Layton15 Using the Roman Naming System Marcus Aurelius Antoninus PiusMarcus Aurelius Antoninus Pius Praenomen – MarcusPraenomen – Marcus Nomen – Aurelius – from the Aurelia clanNomen – Aurelius – from the Aurelia clan Cognomen – Antoninus – immediate family name of AntoniniCognomen – Antoninus – immediate family name of Antonini Agnomen – Pius – given this name because of his pietyAgnomen – Pius – given this name because of his piety More information on the Roman Naming System More information on the Roman Naming System