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Roman Last Names

These Roman last names are real family names of ancient Rome, listed A to Z with their Latin meanings, from great clans like Julius and Cornelius to nicknames such as Crassus, fat, and Scaevola, left-handed.

292 real surnames with meanings, A to Z.

A

  • Acilius

    Possibly from acies, sharp edge

  • Aelius

    Possibly from Greek helios, sun; gens of Hadrian

  • Aemilius

    Possibly from aemulus, rival; patrician gens

  • Afer

    African

  • Africanus

    Conqueror of Africa; Scipio's title

  • Agricola

    Farmer

  • Agrippa

    Said by ancient writers to mean born feet-first; origin uncertain

  • Ahala

    Possibly from ala, armpit; Servilian family

  • Ahenobarbus

    Bronze beard

  • Albinus

    Whitish; fair

  • Albus

    White; fair

  • Annaeus

    Origin uncertain; gens of Seneca

  • Antistius

    Possibly from antistes, high priest

  • Antoninus

    Of Antonius

  • Antonius

    Possibly Etruscan; gens of Mark Antony

  • Aper

    Wild boar

  • Aquila

    Eagle

  • Asiaticus

    Victor in Asia

  • Asina

    She-ass; Cornelian family

  • Asinius

    Donkey (asinus); gens of Pollio

  • Atilius

    Possibly from atta, father

  • Aufidius

    Possibly from the Aufidus river

  • Augustus

    Venerable; majestic

  • Aurelianus

    Of Aurelius

  • Aurelius

    Traditionally from Sabine ausel, sun, later linked to aureus, golden; gens of Marcus Aurelius

B

  • Balbus

    Stammerer

  • Barbatus

    Bearded

  • Bassus

    Stout; plump

  • Bibulus

    Fond of drinking

  • Blaesus

    Lisping

  • Blandus

    Flattering; charming

  • Britannicus

    Of Britain; son of Claudius

  • Brutus

    Dull; heavy; family of the Republic's founder

  • Buteo

    Buzzard

C

  • Caecilius

    Possibly from caecus, blind; gens of the Metelli

  • Caecus

    Blind; Appius Claudius Caecus

  • Caelius

    Possibly from caelum, heaven; also a hill of Rome

  • Caepio

    Possibly onion seller (caepa)

  • Caesar

    Possibly hairy (caesaries); family of Julius Caesar

  • Caligula

    Little soldier's boot

  • Calpurnius

    Claimed descent from Calpus, son of Numa

  • Calvus

    Bald

  • Camillus

    Youth serving at sacrifices

  • Caninius

    Possibly from canis, dog

  • Capito

    Big-headed

  • Carus

    Dear; beloved

  • Cassius

    Possibly from cassis, helmet

  • Catilina

    Possibly from catus, sharp

  • Cato

    Shrewd; wise (catus)

  • Catullus

    Possibly little Cato; or puppy

  • Catulus

    Puppy; whelp

  • Celer

    Swift

  • Celsus

    Lofty; tall

  • Cethegus

    Origin uncertain; Cornelian family

  • Cicero

    Chickpea; family of the orator

  • Cincinnatus

    Curly-haired

  • Cinna

    Possibly Etruscan

  • Claudius

    Traditionally from claudus, lame, or the Sabine name Clausus; patrician gens

  • Clemens

    Merciful; gentle

  • Cocceius

    Possibly from coccum, scarlet; gens of Nerva

  • Cocles

    One-eyed; Horatius at the bridge

  • Columella

    Little column

  • Commodus

    Convenient; agreeable

  • Constans

    Constant; steadfast

  • Constantius

    Steadfast; constant

  • Coriolanus

    Conqueror of Corioli

  • Cornelius

    Possibly from cornu, horn; gens of the Scipios

  • Corvinus

    Raven-like

  • Corvus

    Raven

  • Cotta

    Possibly Etruscan

  • Crassus

    Fat; thick

  • Crispinus

    Of Crispus; curly

  • Crispus

    Curly-haired

  • Cunctator

    Delayer; Fabius Maximus

  • Cursor

    Runner

  • Curtius

    Short (curtus)

D

  • Decius

    Tenth (decimus); plebeian gens

  • Dentatus

    Toothed; born with teeth

  • Dexter

    Right-handed; skillful

  • Didius

    Origin uncertain; plebeian gens

  • Dolabella

    Small pickaxe

  • Domitius

    Possibly from domitus, tamed; gens of Nero's father

  • Drusus

    Said to come from Drausus, a Gaulish chief; origin uncertain

  • Duilius

    Older Duellius, from duellum, war

E

  • Egnatius

    Samnite origin; plebeian gens

  • Ennius

    Possibly Oscan; gens of the poet

F

  • Fabius

    Traditionally from faba, bean; gens of Fabius Cunctator

  • Fabricius

    From faber, craftsman

  • Faustus

    Lucky; auspicious

  • Felix

    Lucky; fortunate

  • Figulus

    Potter

  • Flaccus

    Flap-eared; cognomen of Horace

  • Flavius

    Golden-haired (flavus); gens of Vespasian

  • Flavus

    Golden-haired; blond

  • Florianus

    Of Florus; flowering

  • Florus

    Flowering; blooming

  • Fortunatus

    Fortunate

  • Frontinus

    Of the brow (frons)

  • Fronto

    Big-browed

  • Frugi

    Thrifty; honest

  • Fulvius

    Tawny (fulvus); plebeian gens

  • Furius

    Possibly from furia, rage; gens of Camillus

  • Fuscus

    Dark; swarthy

G

  • Gabinius

    Possibly from Gabii, a Latin town

  • Galba

    Possibly Gaulish, fat; emperor's cognomen

  • Galerius

    From galerus, a leather cap

  • Gallus

    Gaul; or rooster

  • Gemellus

    Twin

  • Geminus

    Twin

  • Germanicus

    Conqueror of Germania

  • Glabrio

    Hairless; smooth

  • Gracchus

    Possibly jackdaw (graculus)

  • Gratianus

    Of grace; pleasing

H

  • Hadrianus

    From Hadria on the Adriatic

  • Helvius

    Honey-yellow (helvus)

  • Herennius

    Oscan origin; plebeian gens

  • Hilarius

    Cheerful

  • Hirtius

    Shaggy; rough (hirtus)

  • Hispanus

    Spaniard

  • Honoratus

    Honored

  • Horatius

    Possibly from hora, hour; gens of the poet Horace

  • Hortensius

    Of gardens (hortus)

  • Hostilius

    Hostile; linked to king Tullus Hostilius

I

  • Ingenuus

    Free-born

J

  • Julianus

    Of Julius

  • Julius

    Possibly from Iulus, son of Aeneas; gens of Caesar

  • Junius

    Possibly from Juno; gens of Brutus

  • Justus

    Just; fair

  • Juvenalis

    Youthful; the satirist Juvenal

L

  • Labeo

    Big-lipped

  • Laelius

    Origin uncertain; friend of Scipio

  • Lentulus

    Somewhat slow

  • Leo

    Lion

  • Lepidus

    Charming; elegant

  • Licinius

    Possibly Etruscan; gens of Crassus

  • Livius

    Possibly from livor, bluish; gens of Livy

  • Lollius

    Possibly from lolium, darnel grass

  • Longinus

    Of Longus; tall

  • Longus

    Tall

  • Lucanus

    From Lucania; cognomen of the poet Lucan

  • Lucianus

    Of Lucius

  • Lucilius

    From the praenomen Lucius, light

  • Lucretius

    Possibly from lucrum, gain; gens of the poet

  • Lucullus

    Possibly from lucus, sacred grove

  • Lupus

    Wolf

  • Lutatius

    Origin uncertain; gens of Catulus

M

  • Macer

    Thin; lean

  • Macrinus

    Thin; of Macer

  • Magnus

    Great; title of Pompey

  • Manlius

    From Manius, born in the morning

  • Marcellus

    Little Marcus

  • Marcius

    Of Mars; plebeian gens

  • Marinus

    Of the sea

  • Marius

    Of Mars; or male; gens of Gaius Marius

  • Martialis

    Of Mars; the poet Martial

  • Maximinus

    Of Maximus

  • Maximus

    Greatest

  • Memmius

    Origin uncertain; plebeian gens

  • Merula

    Blackbird

  • Messalla

    From Messana (Messina) in Sicily

  • Metellus

    Possibly mercenary soldier; Caecilian family

  • Minucius

    Possibly from minuo, to lessen

  • Modestus

    Modest; moderate

  • Montanus

    Of the mountain

  • Mucius

    Origin uncertain; gens of Scaevola

  • Mus

    Mouse; Decian family

N

  • Naevius

    Mole; birthmark (naevus)

  • Nasica

    Pointed nose; branch of the Scipios

  • Naso

    Big-nosed; cognomen of Ovid

  • Natalis

    Of birth; birthday

  • Nautius

    Possibly from nauta, sailor

  • Nepos

    Grandson; descendant

  • Nero

    Strong; brave (Sabine)

  • Nerva

    Sinewy; strong

  • Niger

    Black; dark

  • Nonius

    Ninth (nonus)

  • Numitorius

    From Numitor, legendary king of Alba Longa

O

  • Ocella

    Little eye

  • Octavius

    Eighth (octavus); gens of Augustus

  • Opimius

    Rich; fertile (opimus)

  • Oppius

    Origin uncertain; plebeian gens

  • Otho

    Origin uncertain; emperor Otho

  • Ovidius

    Possibly from ovis, sheep; gens of Ovid

P

  • Paetus

    Slightly squint-eyed

  • Pansa

    Splay-footed

  • Papirius

    Origin uncertain; ancient patrician gens

  • Paterculus

    Little father; historian Velleius

  • Paulinus

    Of Paulus

  • Paullus

    Small

  • Pedius

    Possibly from pes, foot

  • Pertinax

    Persistent; stubborn

  • Petronius

    Possibly from petro, rustic; gens of the satirist

  • Pictor

    Painter

  • Pinarius

    Ancient priestly gens of Hercules

  • Piso

    Possibly from pisum, pea; or grain pounder

  • Pius

    Dutiful; devout

  • Plautius

    Flat-footed (plautus)

  • Plautus

    Flat-footed; cognomen of the playwright

  • Plinius

    Origin uncertain; gens of the two Plinys

  • Pollio

    Possibly polisher (polio)

  • Pompeius

    From Oscan pompe, five; gens of Pompey

  • Pomponius

    From Oscan pompe, five

  • Popillius

    Possibly from populus, people

  • Porcius

    Pig (porcus); gens of Cato

  • Postumius

    Last-born (postumus); patrician gens

  • Postumus

    Last-born; born after father's death

  • Potitius

    Ancient priestly gens of Hercules

  • Primus

    First

  • Priscus

    Ancient; old-fashioned

  • Probus

    Upright; honest

  • Propertius

    Origin uncertain; the elegiac poet

  • Prudens

    Prudent; wise

  • Publilius

    From the praenomen Publius

  • Pudens

    Modest; bashful

  • Pulcher

    Beautiful; Claudian family

  • Pupius

    Possibly from pupus, boy

Q

  • Quietus

    Calm; peaceful

  • Quinctilius

    Fifth; gens of Varus

  • Quinctius

    Fifth (quintus); gens of Cincinnatus

R

  • Rabirius

    Origin uncertain; plebeian gens

  • Regillensis

    From Lake Regillus; victor's title

  • Regulus

    Little king

  • Rex

    King

  • Rubellius

    Reddish (rubellus)

  • Rufinus

    Reddish; of Rufus

  • Rufus

    Red-haired

  • Rusticus

    Rustic; of the countryside

  • Rutilius

    Reddish (rutilus); plebeian gens

S

  • Sabinus

    Sabine

  • Sallustius

    From salus, health; gens of the historian

  • Salvius

    Safe; healthy (salvus)

  • Saturninus

    Of Saturn

  • Scaevola

    Left-handed

  • Scaurus

    Swollen-ankled

  • Scipio

    Staff; walking stick

  • Scribonius

    From scriba, scribe

  • Secundus

    Second; favorable

  • Sempronius

    Possibly from semper, always; gens of the Gracchi

  • Seneca

    Old man (senex); family of the philosopher

  • Septimius

    Seventh; gens of Septimius Severus

  • Serenus

    Calm; clear

  • Sergius

    Possibly Etruscan; patrician gens

  • Servilius

    Possibly from servus, servant; patrician gens

  • Severus

    Stern; strict

  • Sextius

    Sixth (sextus); plebeian gens

  • Silus

    Snub-nosed

  • Silvanus

    Of the forest

  • Statilius

    Origin uncertain; possibly Lucanian

  • Stolo

    Shoot of a plant; sucker

  • Strabo

    Squint-eyed

  • Suetonius

    Origin uncertain; gens of the biographer

  • Sulla

    Possibly ruddy; or from sura, calf of the leg

  • Sulpicius

    Origin uncertain; patrician gens

T

  • Tacitus

    Silent; family of the historian

  • Tarquinius

    From Tarquinii, Etruscan city; royal house

  • Taurus

    Bull

  • Terentius

    Possibly from Terentum, a place in Rome

  • Tertius

    Third

  • Tibullus

    Origin uncertain; the elegiac poet

  • Titius

    From the praenomen Titus

  • Torquatus

    Wearing a torque collar

  • Traianus

    Of the gens Traia; emperor Trajan

  • Tranquillus

    Tranquil; cognomen of Suetonius

  • Tubero

    Swelling; lump

  • Tullius

    Possibly from Tullus; gens of Cicero

  • Tuscus

    Etruscan

U

  • Ulpius

    Possibly Oscan for wolf; gens of Trajan

  • Urbanus

    Of the city; refined

  • Ursus

    Bear

V

  • Valens

    Strong; healthy

  • Valentinus

    Healthy; strong

  • Valerius

    To be strong (valere); ancient patrician gens

  • Varius

    Varied; spotted (varius)

  • Varro

    Possibly Sabine, strong man

  • Varus

    Bow-legged

  • Vatinius

    Possibly from vatius, bow-legged

  • Vergilius

    Origin uncertain; gens of Virgil

  • Verginius

    Possibly from virgo, maiden

  • Verrucosus

    Warty; Fabius Maximus

  • Verus

    True

  • Vespasianus

    Possibly from Vespasiae, a Sabine place

  • Vettius

    Origin uncertain; plebeian gens

  • Veturius

    Possibly from vetus, old

  • Vibius

    From the Oscan praenomen Vibius

  • Victor

    Conqueror

  • Vinicius

    Possibly from vinum, wine

  • Vipsanius

    Origin uncertain; gens of Agrippa

  • Vitalis

    Of life; vital

  • Vitellius

    Possibly from vitellus, little calf

  • Vitruvius

    Origin uncertain; the architect

  • Vitulus

    Calf

  • Volumnius

    Origin uncertain; Etruscan connections

Generate random roman surnames

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  • Albinus

    Whitish; fair

  • Crispinus

    Of Crispus; curly

  • Antonius

    Possibly Etruscan; gens of Mark Antony

  • Paulinus

    Of Paulus

  • Traianus

    Of the gens Traia; emperor Trajan

  • Silus

    Snub-nosed

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    Ancient Roman last names from the great clans

    The list opens with the nomina, the names of the gentes or clans. Julius, Claudius, Cornelius, Valerius, Aemilius and Fabius belonged to patrician houses that supplied consuls for centuries. Many have humble or uncertain meanings. Claudius comes from claudus, lame, Fabius may come from faba, bean, and Cornelius possibly from cornu, horn. The Julii linked their name to Iulus, son of the Trojan hero Aeneas, a story that let Caesar's family claim descent from the goddess Venus.

    Plebeian clans are just as prominent. Licinius, Sempronius, Porcius, Tullius and Marius rose through politics rather than birth, and names like Pompeius and Octavius became famous through a single ambitious man. Imperial names follow. Flavius spread across the empire after the Flavian emperors, Ulpius and Aelius came with Trajan and Hadrian, and Aurelius became very widespread after 212 AD, when Caracalla granted citizenship to almost all free people in the empire and many new citizens took his family name.

    What Roman Latin last names usually mean

    Cognomina, the extra names that often marked a branch of a clan, are where the Latin gets personal. Many began as frank nicknames about the body: Crassus (fat), Varus (bow-legged), Barbatus (bearded), Rufus (red-haired) and Fuscus (dark). Others praised a quality, like Felix (lucky), Constans (steadfast) or Blandus (charming), and some came from animals, such as Leo (lion), Corvinus (raven-like), Vitulus (calf) and Mus (mouse). Once attached to a family, the nickname was inherited long after anyone remembered the joke.

    Numbers form another group. Sextius, Septimius and Tertius come from words for sixth, seventh and third, perhaps once marking birth order or the month of birth. Endings reveal relationships too. A name in -ius is usually a clan name, while -anus often marks adoption or origin, so Aemilianus was a man born an Aemilius and adopted into another family, and Traianus meant of the gens Traia. Place names produced cognomina like Tuscus, the Etruscan, and victories produced honours like Africanus.

    Roman names that survive in modern languages

    Many modern first names are the female forms of these clan names. Julia, Claudia, Cornelia, Valeria, Antonia and Cecilia all began as the name every daughter of a gens received, and Emily comes from Aemilia. Anthony comes from Antonius, Horace from Horatius and Virgil from Vergilius. Some cognomina survived in other ways. Caesar gave German the title Kaiser and Russian the title Tsar, and Cicero lent his name to a printing type size. Reading the list this way shows how far these names travelled.

    Modern surnames in Italy, Spain or Romania rarely descend in an unbroken line from a Roman gens, because hereditary family names faded in the early Middle Ages and returned centuries later. A modern Giuliani or Cornelio usually got the name through a saint or a given name, not from a Roman ancestor. For practical use, search the list by ending: -ius brings up clan names, -us brings up many cognomina, and -anus shows adoptive and place-based forms that suit later imperial characters.

    Frequently asked questions

    Are Latin last names the same as Roman last names?

    Mostly, yes. Latin was the language of Rome, so the clan names and nicknames here are Latin words. Some people also use the phrase for Latinised names of Renaissance scholars, such as Mercator, which are later and are not included in this list.

    Did Romans inherit family names the way we do?

    Partly. The nomen passed from father to children, much like a modern surname. The cognomen began as a personal nickname but often became hereditary within a branch of a clan, so the Cornelii Scipiones all carried Scipio. The first name, or praenomen, was chosen from a small set.

    Why do so many names in the list end in -ius?

    The -ius ending was the standard form of a clan name for men. Daughters used -ia, so a woman of the gens Julia was simply Julia. Cognomina ended in many ways, including -us, -a and -o, which makes the two kinds of names easy to tell apart.

    Can these names work for a modern character?

    Yes. Several are still used as given names or surnames, including Julius, Cornelius, Claudius, Felix and Leo. For a surname, a cognomen like Varus or Rufus sounds distinctive without seeming like a costume, while a clan name like Aurelius gives a scholarly or old-world feel.

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