FR:Cognomen

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A cognomen is a family name which would be shared by a group of blood relatives. Cognomina often, but not always, referred to a person's appearance or other characteristics. It was also common to have a cognomen referring to a place of birth, a job, or some other thing which distinguished the person (usually an ancestor) who first bore that cognomen. It is the third part of the tria nomina.

Contents 1 The Characteristics of Cognomina 2 Inheritance 3 Ancient Republican Cognomina 4 Geographical Cognomina 5 Occupational Cognomina

The Characteristics of Cognomina

Ancient republican cognomina had certain general characteristics. A person was not given his cognomen by his parents and did not choose it for himself: he either inherited it from his parents or was given it by general consensus within the community. In this sense a cognomen was like a nickname. For this reason, they were usually objective rather than subjective, concrete rather than abstract, and neutral or insulting rather than complimentary.

Inheritance

A Roman almost always took his father's cognomen, especially if his father himself inherited the name from his father. Cases in which a cognomen may not be passed down from father to son are those where the cognomen is particularly closely associated with the father and would not be relevant to the son.

Agnomina are not usually inherited. Adoptive cognomina and matronymic cognomina are never inherited.

Ancient Republican Cognomina

A cognomen used in the ancient republic will normally be acceptable so long as it complies with the general characteristics noted above. Here is a list of some ancient republican cognomina with their meanings. Some cognomina were used especially by certain gentes: these are noted in the list, but they may also be used by members of other gentes.

Garçon	Fille	Status	Signification	Utilisé spécialement par
Aculeo	Aculeo		Inamical
Agricola	Agricola	GALVAUDÉ	Paysan
Agrippa	Agrippa	GALVAUDÉ	Qui se présente par le siège	Gens Menenia
Ahala	Ahala		Aisselle	Gens Servilia
Ahenobarbus	Ahenobarba		Barbe rousse	Gens Domitia
Albinus	Albina		Pâle, blanc	Gens Postumia
Albus	Alba		Blanc	Gens Postumia
Ambustus	Ambusta	SUGGÉRÉ	Basané, brûlé	Gens Fabia
Annalis	Annalis		Annuel	Gens Villia
Aquila	Aquila	GALVAUDÉ	Aigle
Aquilinus	Aquilina	GALVAUDÉ	Aquilin
Arvina	Arvina		Gros	Gens Cornelia
Asellio	Asellio		Ânier	Gens Sempronia
Asina	Asina		ânesse	Gens Cornelia
Atellus	Atella		Brun ou noir de peau
Avitus	Avita		Ancestral
Balbus	Balba	SUGGÉRÉ	Bègue	Gentes Acilia, Cornelia, Lucilia, Naevia, Octavia
Barba	Barba		Barbe
Barbatus	Barbata	GALVAUDÉ	Barbu	Gentes Cornelia, Horatia, Quinctia
Bassus	Bassa		Potelé
Bestia	Bestia		Bête	Gens Calpurnia
Bibaculus	Bibacula	SUGGÉRÉ	Ivrogne	Gentes Furia, Sextia
Bibulus	Bibula	SUGGÉRÉ	Soûlard	Gentes Calpurnia, Publicia
Blaesus	Blaesa	SUGGÉRÉ	Bégayant	Gens Sempronia
Brocchus	Broccha	SUGGÉRÉ	Aux dents proéminentes
Brutus	Bruta		Stupide, brute	Gens Iunia
Bubulcus	Bubulca	SUGGÉRÉ	Bouvier	Gens Iunia
Bucco	Bucco	SUGGÉRÉ	Joufflu
Bulbus	Bulba	SUGGÉRÉ	Bulbe, oignon	Gens Atilia
Buteo	Buteo		Buse	Gens Fabia
Caecus	Caeca		Aveugle	Gens Claudia
Caepio	Caepio		Vendeur d'oignons	Gens Servilia
Caesar	Caesar	DÉCONSEILLÉ	Du praenomen archaïque Caesar, avec peut-être le sens de "chevelu"	Gens Iulia
Calidus	Calida		Chaud, emporté	Gens Coelia
Calvinus	Calvina		Vient du cognomen Calvus	Gentes Domitia, Veturia
Calvus	Calva	SUGGÉRÉ	Chauve
Camillus	Camilla		Enfant qui aide lors des sacrifices	Gens Furia
Caninus	Canina	GALVAUDÉ	Canin	Gens Acilia
Canus	Cana		Roux ou poivre et sel
Capito	Capito	SUGGÉRÉ	Qui a une grosse tête	Gens Ateia
Carbo	Carbo		Charbon	Gens Papirii
Catilina	Catilina			Gens Sergia
Cato	Cato	DÉCONSEILLÉ	Prudent	Gentes Hostilia, Porcia
Catulus	Catula		Chiot	Gens Lutatia
Celer	Celeris		Rapide
Celsus	Celsa		Haut	Gens Papia
Cethegus	Cethega			Gens Cornelia
Cicero	Cicero	DÉCONSEILLÉ	Pois chiche	Gens Tullia
Cicurinus	Cicurina		Doux, gentil	Gens Veturia
Cilo	Cilo	SUGGÉRÉ	Tête longue et étroite ou lippu	Gens Flaminia
Cincinnatus	Cincinnata		Frisé	Gens Quinctia
Cinna	Cinna			Gens Cornelia
Cordus	Corda		Né après terme
Cornicen	Cornicen		Sonneur de cor
Cornutus	Cornuta		Cornu	Gens Caecilia, Sulpicia
Corvinus	Corvina		Comme un corbeau	Gens Valeria
Corvus	Corva	GALVAUDÉ	Corbeau	Gens Valeria
Cossus	Cossa		Du prénom archaïque Cossus	Gens Cornelia
Costa	Costa		Côte	Gens Pedania
Cotta	Cotta			Gens Aurelia
Crassipes	Crassipes	SUGGÉRÉ	Aux grands pieds	Gens Furia
Crassus	Crassa	GALVAUDÉ	Gros	Gentes Claudia, Licinia, Otacilia, Veturia
Crispinus	Crispina		Frisottin
Crispus	Crispa		Frisé	Gentes Sallustia, Vibia
Culleo	Culleo	SUGGÉRÉ	Outre en cuir	Gens Terentia
Curio	Curio	SUGGÉRÉ	Prêtre d'une curie	Gens Scribonia
Cursor	Cursor		Coureur	Gens Papiria
Curvus	Curva		Courbé, voûté	Gens Fulvia
Dentatus	Dentata	SUGGÉRÉ	Qui a des dents
Denter	Dentra	SUGGÉRÉ	Qui a des dents	Gens Caecilia
Dento	Dento	SUGGÉRÉ	Qui a des dents
Dives	Dives		Riche, opulent	Gens Licinia
Dolabella	Dolabella		Petite doloire	Gens Cornelia
Dorsuo	Dorsuo	SUGGÉRÉ	Dos large	Gens Fabia
Drusus	Drusa			Gens Livia
Figulus	Figula	SUGGÉRÉ	Potier
Fimbria	Fimbria		Franges	Gens Flavia
Flaccus	Flacca	SUGGÉRÉ	Aux oreilles pendantes	Gentes Aviania, Fulvia, Valeria
Flavus	Flava		Blond	Gens Decimia
Florus	Flora		Florissant	Gens Aquilia
Fronto	Fronto	SUGGÉRÉ	Avec un gros front
Fullo	Fullo	SUGGÉRÉ	Foulon	Gens Apustia
Fusus	Fusa		Du praenomen archaïque Fusus	Gens Furia
Galeo	Galeo		Casque
Gemellus	Gemella		Jumeau	Gentes Servilia, Veturia
Glabrio	Glabrio		Un parent de Glaber	Gens Acilia
Gracchus	Graccha			Gens Sempronia
Gurges	Gurges		Prodigue, gouffre	Gens Fabia
Habitus	Habita		En bonne forme physique	Gens Cluentia
Helva	Helva	SUGGÉRÉ	Jaunâtre	Gens Aebutia
Imperiosus	Imperiosa	DÉCONSEILLÉ	Dominant, tyrannique	Gens Manlia
Iullus	Iulla		Du praenomen archaïque Iullus	Gens Iulia
Labeo	Labeo		Lippu	Gentes Antistia, Atinia, Fabia
Lactuca	Lactuca		Laitue	Gens Valeria
Laenas	Laenas		Manteau de laine	Gens Popillia
Lanatus	Lanata		Laineux	Gens Menenia
Laevinus	Laevina
Laterensis	Laterensis		Garde du corps	Gens Iuventia
Lentulus	Lentula		Lambin	Gens Cornelia
Lepidus	Lepida	GALVAUDÉ	Charmant	Gens Aemilia
Libo	Libo	SUGGÉRÉ		Gens Marcia, Scribonia
Licinus	Licina	SUGGÉRÉ	Cheveux en brosse	Gens Mamilia
Longus	Longa	SUGGÉRÉ	Longiligne	Gentes Sempronia, Sulpicia
Lucullus	Luculla		De lucus (bois) ou de Lucius (praenomen)	Gens Licinia
Lupus	Lupa	GALVAUDÉ	Loup	Gens Rutilia
Lurco	Lurco	SUGGÉRÉ	Glouton, goinfre
Macer	Macra	SUGGÉRÉ	Maigre	Gens Licinia
Macula	Macula	SUGGÉRÉ	Tache ou défaut
Malleolus	Malleola		Maillet	Gens Publicia
Mamercus	Mamerca		Du praenomen rare Mamercus	Gens Aemilia
Marcellus	Marcella	GALVAUDÉ	Du praenomen Marcus	Gens Claudia
Maro	Maro	SUGGÉRÉ	Titre étrusque	Gens Vergilia
Merenda	Merenda	SUGGÉRÉ	Collation	Gentes Antonia, Cornelia
Mergus	Merga	SUGGÉRÉ	Mouette
Merula	Merula		Merle	Gens Cornelia
Messalla	Messalla			Gens Valeria
Metellus	Metella	GALVAUDÉ	Valet d'armée	Gens Caecilia
Murena	Murena		Murène	Gens Licinia
Mus	Mus	SUGGÉRÉ	Souris ou rat	Gens Decia
Musca	Musca	SUGGÉRÉ	Mouche	Gens Sempronia
Nasica	Nasica		Qui a un grand nez	Gens Sempronia
Naso	Naso	SUGGÉRÉ	Qui a un gros nez	Gens Ovidia
Natta	Natta	SUGGÉRÉ	Artisan	Gens Pinaria
Nepos	Nepos		Petit-fils, neveu, prodigue	Gens Caecilia
Nero	Nero		Du praenomen rare Nero	Gens Claudia
Nerva	Nerva		Vigoureux	Gens Cocceia, Licinia
Niger	Nigra	SUGGÉRÉ	Noir de peau ou de poil
Novellus	Novella		Nouveau, moderne	Gens Gavilia
Ocella	Ocella	SUGGÉRÉ	Qui a de petits yeux	Gens Livia
Pacilus	Pacila	SUGGÉRÉ	Du praenomen archaïque Pacilus	Gens Furia
Paetus	Paeta	SUGGÉRÉ	Qui louche	Gens Aelia
Pansa	Pansa	SUGGÉRÉ	Qui marche à grandes enjambées	Gens Vibia
Papus	Papa	SUGGÉRÉ	Du praenomen rare Papus	Gens Aemilia
Paterculus	Patercula	SUGGÉRÉ	Petit père	Gens Sulpicia
Paullus	Paulla		Petit	Gens Aemilia
Pavo	Pavo		Paon
Pera	Pera	SUGGÉRÉ	Musette	Gens Iunia
Pictor	Pictrix		Peintre	Gens Fabia
Piso	Piso		Mortier	Gens Calpurnia
Plancus	Planca		Aux pieds-plats	Gens Munatia
Plautus	Plauta	SUGGÉRÉ	Aux pieds-plats
Poplicola	Poplicola		Ami/amie des personnes	Gens Valeria
Postumus	Postuma		Né après la mort du père	Gens Curtia
Potitus	Potita		Probablement dérivé d'un praenomen archaïque	Gens Valeria
Praeconinus	Praeconina	SUGGÉRÉ	De hérault
Praetextatus	Praetextata		Jeune (revêtu de la toga praetexta)	Gens Sulpicia
Priscus	Prisca		Ancien
Proculus	Procula		Du praenomen rare Proculus: "né pendant l'absence du père"	Gens Plautia
Publicola	Publicola		Variante de Poplicola	Gens Valeria
Pulcher	Pulchra		Beau	Gens Claudia
Pullus	Pulla	SUGGÉRÉ	Petit
Pulvillus	Pulvilla	SUGGÉRÉ	Petit coussin	Gens Horatia
Purpureo	Purpureo	SUGGÉRÉ	Vêtu de pourpre ou ayant une tache de vin
Quadratus	Quadrata		Carré
Ralla	Ralla	SUGGÉRÉ	Tunique fine	Gens Marcia
Regillus	Regilla		Prince	Gens Aemilia
Regulus	Regula	GALVAUDÉ	Prince	Gens Atilia
Rufus	Rufa		Roux
Ruga	Ruga	SUGGÉRÉ	Ride
Rullus	Rulla	SUGGÉRÉ	Rustre, mendiant	Gens Servilia
Rutilus	Rutila		Rouquin
Salinator	Salinatrix		Saunier	Gens Livia
Saturninus	Saturnina		Voué à Saturne
Scaeva	Scaeva		Gaucher	Gens Iunia, Marcia
Scaevola	Scaevola		Gaucher	Gens Mucia
Scapula	Scapula	SUGGÉRÉ	Epaule	Gens Quinctia
Scaurus	Scaura		Pied-bot	Gentes Aemilia, Aurelia
Scipio	Scipio	DÉCONSEILLÉ	Bâton, sceptre	Gens Cornelii
Scrofa	Scrofa	SUGGÉRÉ	Truie	Gens Tremelia
Seneca	Seneca		Vieux	Gens Annaea
Severus	Severa	GALVAUDÉ	Sévère, sérieux, grave
Silanus	Silana		Nez, fontaine	Gens Iunia
Silo	Silo	SUGGÉRÉ	Camard	Gens Sergia
Silus	Sila	SUGGÉRÉ	Camus	Gens Sergia
Stolo	Stolo	SUGGÉRÉ	Surgeon, stolon	Gens Licinia
Strabo	Strabo		Qui louche, jaloux	Gens Titia
Structus	Structa		Provient probablement d'un praenomen archaïque	Gens Servilia
Sulla	Sulla	DÉCONSEILLÉ	Petit mollet	Gens Cornelia
Sura	Sura	SUGGÉRÉ	Mollet
Taurus	Taura		Taureau
Triarius	Triaria	GALVAUDÉ	Triaire	Gens Valeria
Trigeminus	Trigemina		Triplet	Gens Curiatia
Trio	Trio	SUGGÉRÉ	Une des sept étoiles du Septentrion (Pôle Nord)	Gens Lucretia
Tubero	Tubero	SUGGÉRÉ	Qui a une tumeur, une hernie	Gens Aelia, Iulia
Tubertus	Tuberta	SUGGÉRÉ	Qui a une tumeur ou une hernie	Gens Postumia
Tubulus	Tubula	SUGGÉRÉ	Petit tube	Gens Hostilia
Tuditanus	Tuditana	SUGGÉRÉ	Maillet	Gens Sempronia
Tullus	Tulla		Du praenomen rare Tullus	Gens Volcatia
Turdus	Turda	SUGGÉRÉ	Grive	Gens Papiria
Varro	Varro		Balourd	Gens Terentia
Varus	Vara		Aux jambes torves	Gentes Atilia, Licinia, Quinctilia
Vatia	Vatia		Aux jambes arquées	Gens Servilia
Verres	Verres		Verrat	Gens Cornelia
Vespillo	Vespillo		Croquemort	Gens Lucretia
Vetus	Vetus		Vieux	Gens Antistia
Vitulus	Vitula		Veau	Gentes Mamilia, Pomponia
Volusus	Volusa		Du praenomen rare Volusus	Gens Valeria

Geographical Cognomina

Some people had cognomina which referred to the place where they came from, whether a city (e.g. Collatinus, "man from Collatia"), a region (e.g. Campanus, "man from Campania"), or a tribe (e.g. Sabinus, "man of the Sabines").

These geographical cognomina should be distinguished from honorific cognomina like Germanicus or Britannicus. These names do not refer to a place of origin but to a military achievement. If someone is called Britannicus it does not mean he is from Britain, it means he won a great victory against the Britons. Names like this are not allowed, for obvious reasons.

Occupational Cognomina

Another type of cognomen referred to the person's job or occupation (e.g. Pictor, "painter"; Caprarius, "goat-herd").