it is a clan name, like "Smith" or "Green" in our culture.

The Roman system of naming involved (usually) three names:

1. praenomen: given name (from a small set, e.g., Gaius, Marcus, Publius)

2. nomen (gentile): clan name (e.g., Claudius, Julius, etc.)

3. cognomen: family name (e.g., Caesar, Drusus, etc.). It originally started out as a nickname to differentiate people with the same praenomen and nomen.

[Edited to unconfusticate half-plural/half-singular forms in final sentence.]

Last edited by zmjezhd; 05/16/11 11:24 AM.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.