Roman name

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{{LanguageBar|Roman name}}
 
{{LanguageBar|Roman name}}
  
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Roman ''male'' names typically contain three proper nouns which are classified as:
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The system of Roman names was very unusual in the ancient world. Names in most other ancient Indo-Euopean cultures did not include an inherited name that indicated lineage within a clan, as did the Roman ''nomen'' <ref name="salway">Salway, B. (1994), "What's in a name? A Survey of Roman Onomastic Practice from 700 B.C. to A. D. 700", The Journal of Roman Studies, vol. 84, pp. 124-145 {{JSTOR|300873}}</ref>. Starting from relatively simple beginnings, as time progressed, Roman names became longer and more complex, including more information about the person named. A foreigner becoming a Roman citizen took a new Roman name as a mark of citizenship.
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*the '''praenomen''' (or given name),  
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{{Template:Roman name articles}}
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*the '''nomen''' (or gens name) and  
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<onlyinclude>
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*the '''cognomen'''.
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==''Tria nomina''==
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Sometimes a second cognomen (called an agnomen) is added.
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For ''female'' names, the convention is similar, with a few differences.  
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Typical Roman names of the late Republic had three parts (the "''tria nomina''"). Example: ''Gaius Iulius Caesar'' where:
  
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Additional elements such as '''agnomen''' and '''filiation''' are optional.
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* ''Gaius'' is a ''praenomen'' ("given name", plural ''praenomina''),
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* ''Iulius'' is a ''nomen'' ("''gens'' or clan name", plural ''nomina''), and
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* ''Caesar'' is a ''cognomen'' ("family name within a ''gens''", plural ''cognomina'').
  
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==Elements of a name==
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Some names had no ''cognomen'', but in other cases a second ''cognomen'', (called an ''agnomen''), was added. Female names could follow similar conventions, with a few differences. Additional elements such as tribal affiliation and "filiation" (parentage), were also sometimes used.</onlyinclude><ref name="salway"/>[[Image:M Agrippa L F on Pantheon.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, identified as "M. Agrippa" on the [[Pantheon]].]][[Image:Caeciliae Metellae inscription.jpg|thumb|250px|right|"Caeciliae Q. Cretici F(iliae) Metellae Crassi" On the tomb of Caecilia Metella, via Appia.]]
  
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===Praenomen===
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==Development==
  
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(Praenomen, plural: praenomina) This form of "first" name was relatively unimportant, and was rarely used on its own outside of the family. There are relatively few praenomina that were commonly used in the Republican era of Rome.  
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Early social organization in central Italy was centered around the ''[[gens]]'', (clan), an "aristocratic lineage or group of lineages and some of their lesser followers and dependents".<ref name="village">Boatwright, M., Gargola, D., Talbert, R. (2004), "The Romans From Village to Empire", Oxford University Press.</ref>Inscriptions from the 7th century BCE show names consisting by that date of ''praenomen'' (identifies the individual) and ''nomen'' (identifies the ''gens''). <ref name="village"/>
  
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===Nomen===
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Later, an additional element, the ''cognomen'', was added by aristocrats desiring to connect themselves with the great deeds of specific direct ancestors. Still, some "families never had a cognomen" <ref name="village"/>
  
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(Nomen plural: nomina) The second name or nomen is the name of the gens (clan) in masculine form; the Latin word "gens" is feminine, so the name appears as feminine in our lists.  
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In some cases, "[t]he singular fame of a particular cognomen might allow it to stand for the associated gentilicium [i.e., ''nomen'' plus ''cognomen''] in binominal address..."<ref name="salway"/>as for example when M. Vipsanius Agrippa is named "M. Agrippa" on the Pantheon (see on picture).
  
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===Cognomen===
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==Female names==
  
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(Cognomen, plural: cognomina) The third name or cognomen started to be a nickname or personal name that distinguished individuals within the same gens (the cognomen does not appear in official documents until around 100 BCE). During the Roman Republic, the cognomen is inherited from father to son, serving to distinguish a family within a gens. Often the cognomen was chosen based on some physical or personality trait.
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Roman women normally had (or used) only their ''nomen'', but there is ample evidence that many had ''praenomen'' and ''cognomen'' as well.<ref name="kajava">Kajava, Mika "Roman Female Praenomina:studies in the nomenclature of Roman women" (ISBN 9519690212</ref>''Praenomen'' was an attribute of high priestess, such as [[Vestals]], and married women of the highest classes. ''Cognomina'', especially from the late republic, became quite frequent and usually inherited by women, too.
  
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===Additional elements===
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==Elements of a name==
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===''Praenomen''===
  
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====Filiation====
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(''[[Praenomen]]'', plural: ''praenomina'') This form of "first" name was relatively unimportant, and was rarely used on its own outside of the family. There are relatively few ''praenomina'' that were commonly used in the Republican era of Rome. Read [[Praenomen|more about ''praenomina'']].
  
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Originally, the praenomen and nomen constituted a Roman's full name and were followed by the so-called filiation (a patronymic or indication of paternity). The filiation (patronymicus) consisted of the Latin word for "son," ''filius'' (abbreviated by the letter f.), preceded by the abbreviation of the father's praenomen, which was understood in the genitive case. Hence, a Roman might have been known as
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===''Nomen''===
  
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M. Antonius M. f. (=Marci filius), that is, Marcus Antonius, the son of Marcus.
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(''[[Nomen]]'' plural: ''nomina'') The second name or ''nomen'' is the name of the ''[[gens]]'' (clan) in masculine form; the Latin word "''gens''" is feminine, so the name appears as feminine in our lists. Read [[Nomen|more about ''nomina'']].
  
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Additionally it could also indicate the grandfather with the word "grandson," ''nepos'' (abbreviated by the letter n.).
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===''Cognomen''===
  
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====Tribal affiliation====
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(''[[Cognomen]]'', plural: ''cognomina'') The third name or ''cognomen'' started to be a nickname or personal name that distinguished individuals within the same ''gens'' (the ''cognomen'' does not appear in official documents until around 100 BCE). During the Roman Republic, the ''cognomen'' is inherited from father to son, serving to distinguish a family within a ''gens''. Often the ''cognomen'' was based on some physical or personality trait. Read [[Cognomen|more about ''cognomina'']].
  
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By the Middle Republic the abbreviation for tribe in which the man was enrolled was added after his filiation. When this became an official part of the name is not known. By 242 BC the number of tribes was fixed at 35:
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===''Agnomen''===
  
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{{FourUp|content=Aemilia}}
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{{:Agnomen}}
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{{FourUp|content=Aniensis}}
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{{FourUp|content=Arniensis}}
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{{FourUp|content=Camilia}}
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{{FourUp|content=Claudia}}
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{{FourUp|content=Clustumina}}
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{{FourUp|content=Collina}}
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{{FourUp|content=Cornelia}}
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{{FourUp|content=Esquilina}}
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{{FourUp|content=Fabia}}
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{{FourUp|content=Falerna}}
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{{FourUp|content=Galeria}}
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{{FourUp|content=Horatia}}
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{{FourUp|content=Lemonia}}
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{{FourUp|content=Maecia}}
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{{FourUp|content=Oufentina}}
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{{FourUp|content=Palatina}}
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{{FourUp|content=Papiria}}
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{{FourUp|content=Poblilia}}
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{{FourUp|content=Pollia}}
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{{FourUp|content=Pomptina}}
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{{FourUp|content=Quirina}}
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{{FourUp|content=Romilia}}
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{{FourUp|content=Sabatia}}
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{{FourUp|content=Scaptia}}
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{{FourUp|content=Sergia}}
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{{FourUp|content=Stellatina}}
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{{FourUp|content=Succusana}}
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{{FourUp|content=Suburana}}
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{{FourUp|content=Teretina}}
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{{FourUp|content=Tromentina}}
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{{FourUp|content=Velina}}
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{{FourUp|content=Voltinia}}
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{{FourUp|content=Voturia}}
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<br style="clear:both"/>
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A tribe was not an indication of common ancestry; the tribes were distributed geographically and a man belonged to the tribe in which his main residence was located. The tribe was an essential part of citizenship, since voting was often carried out by tribe. With the expansion of the Empire, the number or tribes also expanded. In Nova Roma, assignment to tribes is performed by the Censors. If you don't know your tribe, email them and ask.
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Read [[Agnomen|more about ''agnomina'']].
  
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==Examples==
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===Filiation===
  
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Ok, let's analyse the example of a complete name: '''Marcus Aurelius Marci f. Quinti n. tribu Galeria Antoninus Pius, domo Caesaraugusta'''.
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Originally, the ''praenomen'' and ''nomen'' constituted a Roman's full name and were followed by the so-called filiation (a patronymic or indication of paternity)<ref name="salway"/>. The filiation (''patronymicus'') consisted of the Latin word for "son," ''filius'' (abbreviated by the letter f.), preceded by the abbreviation of the father's ''praenomen'', which was understood in the [[genitive|genitive case]]. Hence, a Roman might have been known as
  
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* praenomen: Marcus
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''M. Antonius M. f.'' (=''Marci filius''), that is, Marcus Antonius, the son of Marcus.
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* nomen: Aurelius (he belongs to gens Aurelia, the Aurelii in plural)
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* patronymicus: Marci f. (son of Marcus)
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* grandparent: Quinti n. (grandson of Quintus)
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* tribe: tribu Galeria (a tribe from the region of Caesaraugusta in Hispania)
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* cognomen: Antoninus (family of the Antonini)
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* agnomen: Pius (probably because of his piety...rarely inherited))
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* city: Caesaraugusta (ancient Saragozza in Hispania)
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In everyday use, people are referred to by either a combination of the praenomen and nomen, or even more usually by just their cognomen.
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Additionally it could also indicate the grandfather with the word "grandson," ''nepos'' (abbreviated by the letter n.).
  
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*"Marcus Livius Drusus" would either be just "Drusus" or "Marcus Livius."
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===Tribal affiliation===
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*"Iulia Marciana" would be just "Iulia."
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==Usage==
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{{:Tribe}} Read [[Tribe|more about tribes]].
  
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This section contains general guidance on how to use Roman names. It must be stressed that these are not firm legalistic rules. A name is a device which allows one person to talk about another person so that everyone knows who he is talking about. Any rule which makes it unclear who is being referred to would be self-defeating, and all the general rules explained below should be ignored if following them would lead to confusion.
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==Examples==
  
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===How Many Names?===
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'''Marcus Aurelius Marci f. Quinti n. tribu Galeria Antoninus Pius'''.
  
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As a general rule, the more formal the context, the more names are used. The use of all three (or more) names is very formal, and should be rare. Calling someone '''M. Tullius Cicero''' is roughly equivalent to calling someone '''Mr Robert James Grant, Esquire'''.
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* ''praenomen'': Marcus
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* ''nomen'': Aurelius (he belongs to gens Aurelia, the Aurelii in plural)
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* ''patronymicus'': Marci f. (son of Marcus)
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* grandparent: Quinti n. (grandson of Quintus)
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* tribe: tribu Galeria (a tribe from the region of Caesaraugusta in Hispania)
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* ''cognomen'': Antoninus (family of the Antonini)
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* ''agnomen'': Pius (probably because of his piety...rarely inherited))
  
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Two names are normally enough to make it clear who you are talking to or about. Using two names is formal and polite. Calling someone '''M. Tullius''' is roughly equivalent to calling someone '''Robert Grant''' or '''Mr Grant'''. When you mention someone for the first time in a speech or a letter, or when greeting someone, it is common to use two names.
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The Pantheon inscription reads in full '''M. AGRIPPA L. F. COS. TERTIVM FECIT''', that is, M. Agrippa, son of Lucius, consul for the third time made (this).  
  
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Use of one name is relatively relaxed and informal. If you already in the middle of a conversation with someone, or in the middle of talking about someone, you might well call him by just one name, especially if you know him reasonably well. Calling someone '''Cicero''' is roughly equivalent to calling someone '''Robert'''. But in formal situations or when first mentioning someone, using only one name may be over-familiar and could be impolite.
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* ''praenomen'': M(arcus)
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* ''cognomen'': AGRIPPA
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* ''patronymicus'': L(ucii) F(ilius)
  
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<br style="clear:both"/>
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==Usage==
  
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===Which Names?===
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In everyday use, people are referred to by either a combination of the ''praenomen'' and ''nomen'', or even more usually by just their ''cognomen''.
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*"Marcus Livius Drusus" would either be just "Drusus" or "Marcus Livius."  
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Which names you call someone by depends partly on how many names you are using.
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*"Fausta Cornelia Sulla" would be just "Cornelia" (See [[using Roman names]] for more on this topic.)
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<br style="clear:both"/>
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====Two Names====
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When calling someone by two names, which names you use depends on the status of the person you're naming. If the person is a [[nobilis (Nova Roma)|''nobilis'']], it is proper to call him by his ''praenomen'' and ''cognomen'', e.g. '''P. Scipio'''. If he is a [[homo novus (Nova Roma)|''homo novus'']], one would normally call him by his ''praenomen'' and ''nomen'', e.g. '''M. Tullius'''. Most people in Nova Roma are ''homines novi'', so most people are normally called by their ''praenomen'' and ''nomen''. If you accidentally call a ''nobilis'' as if he were a ''homo novus'', he will probably not take offence, especially if you apologise for your mistake; but if in doubt, you can always ask.
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One may, of course, flatter or praise a ''novus homo'' by naming him with his ''praenomen'' and ''cognomen'' as if he were a ''nobilis''; but you should not do this too often, especially as it could cause resentment among the true ''nobiles''.
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Some people adopt a style which was fashionable in the first generations of the imperial period and call everyone, both ''nobilis'' and ''homo novus'', by ''nomen'' and ''cognomen'', e.g. '''Cornelius Scipio''', '''Tullius Cicero'''. There is nothing strictly wrong with this, but it is not characteristic of the ancient republic and is not encouraged.
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<br style="clear:both"/>
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====One Name====
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When calling someone by only one name, it is normal and polite to use the ''cognomen''. A ''nobilis'' should always be called by his ''cognomen''. A ''homo novus'' can be called by his ''nomen'': this is not strictly impolite, but it is at best neutral and may also make it unclear who you are talking about.
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Where a person has more than one ''cognomen'', you should normally use the first one. Calling someone by his ''agnomen'', if he has one, is of course particularly complimentary. You should only call someone by his adoptive if you want to draw attention to his pre-adoption family and identity: this is not necessarily polite or impolite, but will depend on the context. Similarly calling someone by his matronymic ''cognomen'' will draw attention to his mother's identity and family.
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Do not fall into the trap of calling someone routinely by his adoptive ''cognomen''. This is often tempting, because it is an easy way of distinguishing between the adopted child and the adoptive father, but it is an un-Roman habit. To a Roman, an adopted child became, to all intents and purposes, the child of the adoptive parents, and one should normally ignore his adoptive ''cognomen'' when naming him.
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<br style="clear:both"/>
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====''Praenomen'' Only====
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The ''praenomen'' is essentially a private name, for use within the family. You should not call a Roman by just his ''praenomen'' unless he is your close relative or very, very close friend. Even spouses do not generally call each other by their ''praenomina'' alone - they generally use ''nomina'' or ''cognomina''.
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<br style="clear:both"/>
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===Latin Vocatives===
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When you call someone by name, you change the ending of the name to indicate that you are talking ''to'' the person, not ''about'' him. As a general rule, names ending in ''-us'' take an ending ''-e'' (e.g. '''Brutus''' -> '''Brute'''), though names ending in ''-ius'' turn to ''-i'' (e.g. '''Tullius''' -> '''Tulli'''). Names ending in ''-a'' do not usually change. Names with other endings do not usually change.
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You may notice some people using vocative endings when they are talking about someone in the third person (e.g. "I was talking to Brute yesterday"). Don't be confused - you are right, they are wrong.
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<br style="clear:both"/>
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===Addresses Other Than Names===
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Much more than in some modern societies, Romans address each other using labels other than names, or combine names with other terms. What follows is a very brief overview.
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====Dominus & Domina====
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Some modern Latin-speakers use "''dominus''" and "''domina''" as equivalents of English "Mr" and "Miss" or "Mrs". This is strongly discouraged. "''Dominus''" means "lord" or "master", and addressing someone in this way is very servile and grovelling.
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An exception is that lovers sometimes call each other "''dominus''" and "''domina''", though usually only in the bedroom.
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<br style="clear:both"/>
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====Titles====
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Though Romans do not generally go in for titles in a big way, it is not uncommon to call a [[Consul (Nova Roma)|Consul]] by the title "Consul", for example, especially when speaking in a political context or discussing business relevant to the office. Likewise one may call one's patron by the title "''patronus''". But titles are not by any means compulsory, and there is nothing at all rude in calling a magistrate straightforwardly by his name.
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<br style="clear:both"/>
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====Relatives====
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As well as calling each other by name, relatives commonly talk to or about each other by reference to their relationship, e.g. ''pater'' (father), ''soror'' (sister), ''patruus'' (uncle), &c. These terms are often combined with terms of endearment (see below). As noted above, close relatives might call each other by their ''praenomina''.
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<br style="clear:both"/>
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====Spouses and Lovers====
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As was mentioned above, spouses and lovers generally call each other by ''cognomen'' rather than ''praenomen''. Occasionally they called each other ''vir'' (husband) and ''uxor'' (wife), but more commonly they used terms of endearment (see below).
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====Friends and Acquaintances====
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Most of the time people who know each other but are not especially close call each other by name, sometimes with "''mi''" (see below). Sometimes they will use brief descriptions, e.g. ''iuvenis'' (young man), ''amicus'' (friend), ''senex'' (old man). Depending on the relationship between the people concerned, they may use terms of endearment or even insults.
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====Strangers====
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There is no direct Roman equivalent of "sir" or "madam". If you meet someone whose name you don't know, it is normal and not at all rude to say something like "''petasate''" ("you with the hat") or "''senex''" ("old man") or "''viator''" ("traveller"). Very often one might say "''quiquis es''" ("whoever you are").
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Generally, though, unless you are merely asking the time of day, the best tactic is to try to find out the person's name by saying something like "''adulescens, dic mihi nomen tuum, quaeso''" ("young man, please tell me your name") or "''o qui vocaris?''" ("O how are you called?").
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<br style="clear:both"/>
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====Terms of Endearment and Esteem====
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==Adoption==
  
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Romans have always been very inventive with terms of endearment. One very common one is "''carissimus''", often combined with a name, e.g. "''salve Brute carissime''" ("hello my dear Brutus"), "''salve soror carissima''" ("hello dear sister"). Others include "''dulcis''" ("sweet"), "''inclitus''" ("famous"), "''magnus''" ("great"), "''optimus''" ("excellent"), "''fortissimus''" ("very strong"). This should be enough to give you the general idea.
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At the time of adoption, the adopted person assumed the adoptive father's full name, and the filiation was changed to refer to the adoptive father. The adoptive son's ''nomen'' of birth was appended in adjectival form as an adoptive ''cognomen'', with the ending "-anus". As an example, when L. Aemilius L. f. Paulus was adopted by P. Cornelius Scipio Africanus he used the name P. Cornelius P. f. Scipio Aemelianus.  
  
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<br style="clear:both"/>
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==Twins==
  
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===="''Mi''" and "''O''"====
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Twins were favoured in the Roman world. One of the twins might be named Geminus, Gemellus, Consors. The dictator Sulla gave the praenomina Faustus and Fausta to his twins.<ref>Dasen, Veronique. "Multiple Births in Graeco-Roman Antiquity", Oxford Journal of Archaeology, Volume 16, Number 1, March 1997 , pp. 49-63(15)</ref>
  
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"''Mi''" (masculine) and "''mea''" (feminine) mean "my". They are very commonly attached to names or other terms of endearment in conversations between friends or well-meaning acquaintances, e.g. "''salve mi frater''" ("hello my brother"), "''salve mea Cornelia''" ("hello my Cornelia"). It is especially common in letters, not so much in oral conversation.
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==References==
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<references/>
  
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"''O''" is also not uncommon. It has the general effect of making an address to someone more emotional, emphatic, or poetic. E.g. "''o optime Brute''" ("O excellent Brutus").
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{{Bookinfo
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| title=Personal Names in the Roman World
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| author=Clive Cheesman
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| date=November 30, 2008
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| publisher=Duckworth Publishers
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| ISBN=0715636189
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| comment=Paperback, 160 pages
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| name=[[User:M. Lucretius Agricola|Agricola]]
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}}
  
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{{Bookinfo
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| title=Roman Female Praenomina: Studies in the Nomenclature of Roman Women
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| author=Kajava, Mika
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| date=1994
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| publisher=Institutum Romanum Finlandiae
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| ISBN=9519690212
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| comment=Acta Instituti Romani Finlandiae
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| name=
 +
}}
  
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[[Category:Roma Antiqua]]
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[[Category:Ancient Rome]]

Latest revision as of 17:24, 22 January 2013

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The system of Roman names was very unusual in the ancient world. Names in most other ancient Indo-Euopean cultures did not include an inherited name that indicated lineage within a clan, as did the Roman nomen [1] . Starting from relatively simple beginnings, as time progressed, Roman names became longer and more complex, including more information about the person named. A foreigner becoming a Roman citizen took a new Roman name as a mark of citizenship.

Roman names

·Ancient Rome ·
Roman name - Praenomen - Nomen - Cognomen - Agnomen

·Nova Roma·
Choosing a Roman name - Using Roman names

Contents

Tria nomina

Typical Roman names of the late Republic had three parts (the "tria nomina"). Example: Gaius Iulius Caesar where:

  • Gaius is a praenomen ("given name", plural praenomina),
  • Iulius is a nomen ("gens or clan name", plural nomina), and
  • Caesar is a cognomen ("family name within a gens", plural cognomina).

Some names had no cognomen, but in other cases a second cognomen, (called an agnomen), was added. Female names could follow similar conventions, with a few differences. Additional elements such as tribal affiliation and "filiation" (parentage), were also sometimes used.[1]

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, identified as "M. Agrippa" on the Pantheon.
"Caeciliae Q. Cretici F(iliae) Metellae Crassi" On the tomb of Caecilia Metella, via Appia.

Development

Early social organization in central Italy was centered around the gens, (clan), an "aristocratic lineage or group of lineages and some of their lesser followers and dependents".[2] Inscriptions from the 7th century BCE show names consisting by that date of praenomen (identifies the individual) and nomen (identifies the gens). [2]


Later, an additional element, the cognomen, was added by aristocrats desiring to connect themselves with the great deeds of specific direct ancestors. Still, some "families never had a cognomen" [2]


In some cases, "[t]he singular fame of a particular cognomen might allow it to stand for the associated gentilicium [i.e., nomen plus cognomen] in binominal address..."[1] as for example when M. Vipsanius Agrippa is named "M. Agrippa" on the Pantheon (see on picture).

Female names

Roman women normally had (or used) only their nomen, but there is ample evidence that many had praenomen and cognomen as well.[3] Praenomen was an attribute of high priestess, such as Vestals, and married women of the highest classes. Cognomina, especially from the late republic, became quite frequent and usually inherited by women, too.

Elements of a name

Praenomen

(Praenomen, plural: praenomina) This form of "first" name was relatively unimportant, and was rarely used on its own outside of the family. There are relatively few praenomina that were commonly used in the Republican era of Rome. Read more about praenomina.

Nomen

(Nomen plural: nomina) The second name or nomen is the name of the gens (clan) in masculine form; the Latin word "gens" is feminine, so the name appears as feminine in our lists. Read more about nomina.

Cognomen

(Cognomen, plural: cognomina) The third name or cognomen started to be a nickname or personal name that distinguished individuals within the same gens (the cognomen does not appear in official documents until around 100 BCE). During the Roman Republic, the cognomen is inherited from father to son, serving to distinguish a family within a gens. Often the cognomen was based on some physical or personality trait. Read more about cognomina.

Agnomen

Under some circumstances Romans were given an additional cognomen, called an agnomen. These were the exception to the general rule that cognomina were not complimentary.

Read more about agnomina.

Filiation

Originally, the praenomen and nomen constituted a Roman's full name and were followed by the so-called filiation (a patronymic or indication of paternity)[1] . The filiation (patronymicus) consisted of the Latin word for "son," filius (abbreviated by the letter f.), preceded by the abbreviation of the father's praenomen, which was understood in the genitive case. Hence, a Roman might have been known as

M. Antonius M. f. (=Marci filius), that is, Marcus Antonius, the son of Marcus.

Additionally it could also indicate the grandfather with the word "grandson," nepos (abbreviated by the letter n.).

Tribal affiliation

A tribe was not an indication of common ancestry; the tribes were distributed geographically and a man belonged to the tribe in which his main residence was located. The tribe was an essential part of citizenship, since voting was often carried out by tribe. By the Middle Republic the abbreviation for tribe in which the person was enrolled was added to the person's name. Read more about tribes.

Examples

Marcus Aurelius Marci f. Quinti n. tribu Galeria Antoninus Pius.

  • praenomen: Marcus
  • nomen: Aurelius (he belongs to gens Aurelia, the Aurelii in plural)
  • patronymicus: Marci f. (son of Marcus)
  • grandparent: Quinti n. (grandson of Quintus)
  • tribe: tribu Galeria (a tribe from the region of Caesaraugusta in Hispania)
  • cognomen: Antoninus (family of the Antonini)
  • agnomen: Pius (probably because of his piety...rarely inherited))

The Pantheon inscription reads in full M. AGRIPPA L. F. COS. TERTIVM FECIT, that is, M. Agrippa, son of Lucius, consul for the third time made (this).

  • praenomen: M(arcus)
  • cognomen: AGRIPPA
  • patronymicus: L(ucii) F(ilius)

Usage

In everyday use, people are referred to by either a combination of the praenomen and nomen, or even more usually by just their cognomen.

  • "Marcus Livius Drusus" would either be just "Drusus" or "Marcus Livius."
  • "Fausta Cornelia Sulla" would be just "Cornelia" (See using Roman names for more on this topic.)

Adoption

At the time of adoption, the adopted person assumed the adoptive father's full name, and the filiation was changed to refer to the adoptive father. The adoptive son's nomen of birth was appended in adjectival form as an adoptive cognomen, with the ending "-anus". As an example, when L. Aemilius L. f. Paulus was adopted by P. Cornelius Scipio Africanus he used the name P. Cornelius P. f. Scipio Aemelianus.

Twins

Twins were favoured in the Roman world. One of the twins might be named Geminus, Gemellus, Consors. The dictator Sulla gave the praenomina Faustus and Fausta to his twins.[4]


References

  1. ↑ 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Salway, B. (1994), "What's in a name? A Survey of Roman Onomastic Practice from 700 B.C. to A. D. 700", The Journal of Roman Studies, vol. 84, pp. 124-145 (Retrieve from JSTOR)
  2. ↑ 2.1 2.2 2.3 Boatwright, M., Gargola, D., Talbert, R. (2004), "The Romans From Village to Empire", Oxford University Press.
  3. ↑ Kajava, Mika "Roman Female Praenomina:studies in the nomenclature of Roman women" (ISBN 9519690212
  4. ↑ Dasen, Veronique. "Multiple Births in Graeco-Roman Antiquity", Oxford Journal of Archaeology, Volume 16, Number 1, March 1997 , pp. 49-63(15)


Personal Names in the Roman World

0715636189.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg
Clive Cheesman. (November 30, 2008). Duckworth Publishers. ISBN 0715636189
Paperback, 160 pages Contributed by Agricola
Buy from Amazon: Canada UK USA

Roman Female Praenomina: Studies in the Nomenclature of Roman Women

9519690212.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg
Kajava, Mika. (1994). Institutum Romanum Finlandiae. ISBN 9519690212
Acta Instituti Romani Finlandiae
Buy from Amazon: Canada UK USA
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