cognomina Synonyms
cognomina Meaning
cognomina
name entry 1 sense 1, surname, a distinguishing nickname or epithet, the third of the usually three names of an ancient Roman compare nomen, praenomen, name, nickname entry 1, a person's last name
cognomina Sentence Examples
- Roman citizens adopted cognomina, distinctive surnames, to identify individual families within their gens.
- The cognomina of the Julius Caesar family included Caesar, Balbus, and Brutus.
- Cognomina often reflected the family's occupation, such as Cicero (chickpea grower) and Fabius (bean grower).
- The use of cognomina became widespread during the late Roman Republic.
- Over time, cognomina evolved into hereditary surnames, and many later Roman families bear the same cognomina.
- Cognomina provide valuable insights into Roman social history and cultural norms.
- Some Roman cognomina were descriptive of physical characteristics, such as Rufus (red-haired) and Longus (tall).
- The cognomina "Octavianus" and "Augustus" were adopted by emperors Augustus and Octavian.
- Cognomina could also be used to honor ancestors, as in the case of the Scipio family's cognomina, "Africanus" and "Numantinus."
- The cognomina system was gradually replaced by the use of Christian names during the early Middle Ages.
FAQs About the word cognomina
name entry 1 sense 1, surname, a distinguishing nickname or epithet, the third of the usually three names of an ancient Roman compare nomen, praenomen, name,
epithets,nicknames, monikers, monickers,soubriquets, sobriquets, titles, aliases, surnames, bynames
No antonyms found.
Roman citizens adopted cognomina, distinctive surnames, to identify individual families within their gens.
The cognomina of the Julius Caesar family included Caesar, Balbus, and Brutus.
Cognomina often reflected the family's occupation, such as Cicero (chickpea grower) and Fabius (bean grower).
The use of cognomina became widespread during the late Roman Republic.
