Roman naming conventions

Over 1400 years the Romans and other peoples of Italy employed a system of names which were different from the personal names used by other cultures in Europe, consisting of a combination of a personal and a family name. Although conventionally referred to as the tria nomina, the combination of praenomen, nomen, and cognomen that have come to be regarded as the basic elements of the classical Roman name-form in fact represent a continuous process of development, from at least the 7th century BC – 7th century AD. The names that developed as part of this system became a defining characteristic of Roman civilization, and although the system itself fell out of use during the Early Middle Ages, the names themselves had a profound influence on the development of European naming practices, and many continue to influence modern languages.

Overview

The distinguishing feature of Roman nomenclature was the use of both personal names and regular surnames. Throughout Europe and the Mediterranean, other ancient civilizations distinguished individuals using single personal names. These names usually combined two elements or themes which allowed for hundreds or even thousands of possible combinations – a dithematic naming system. But a markedly different system of nomenclature arose in Italy, where the personal name was joined by a hereditary surname. Over time, this binomial system expanded to include additional names and designations.

The most important of these names was the nomen gentilicium, or simply nomen, a hereditary surname that identified a person as a member of a distinct gens. This was preceded by the praenomen, or "forename", a personal name that served to distinguish between the different members of a family. For example, a Roman named Publius Lemonius might have sons named Publius Lemonius, Lucius Lemonius, and Gaius Lemonius.