{"id":1730,"date":"2023-02-28T17:50:33","date_gmt":"2023-02-28T16:50:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=1730"},"modified":"2023-02-28T17:50:33","modified_gmt":"2023-02-28T16:50:33","slug":"did-ancient-romans-use-surnames","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/did-ancient-romans-use-surnames\/","title":{"rendered":"Did ancient romans use surnames?"},"content":{"rendered":"

No, the ancient Romans did not use surnames. The concept of a surname (a name added to a person’s given name to indicate family relationship or to identify a person’s family) did not exist in ancient Rome. Each person simply had a given name, which was used throughout their life.<\/p>\n

The vast majority of ancient Romans did not use surnames. In fact, it was not until the middle ages that surnames became common in Rome. Prior to that, most people simply used their given name followed by their father’s name (e.g. Lucius Cornelius son of Lucius). However, there were a few exceptions. For example, some members of the imperial family did have surnames, as did some of the wealthy elites.<\/p>\n

How did Romans do last names? <\/h2>\n

In ancient Rome, men typically had three names: a praenomen (first name), nomen (family name), and cognomen (nickname). The nomen usually ended in -ius, and the cognomen was often used to denote a branch of a family. For example, the famous Roman general Julius Caesar had the praenomen Gaius, the nomen Caesar, and the cognomen Julius.<\/p>\n

The use of surnames has been documented in the oldest historical records dating back to the 11th century. Surnames were originally used as a way to identify people by their family name, but they have also been used as a way to indicate occupation, place of origin, and other important information. Today, surnames are still used as a way to identify people, but they can also be used as a way to show respect or as a sign of affection.<\/p>\n

Did people in ancient times have last names <\/h3>\n