Roman Last Names – Origin and Meanings
Roman last names, also known as a Congnomen, were one of 3 parts of a Roman individuals name. More often than not, these last names (Congnomen) were descriptive, referring to a character trait or physical descriptor of a person. Like a lot of languages around the globe, congnomina (last names) may have fallen into a few categories. These are as follows;
Occupational
These names were given on the basis of the occupation of the name holder or the name holder’s ancestors. Bubulcus, for example, meaning cattle-driver.
Geographical/Place of Origin
These names referred to the place a person came from. For example, Campanus, meaning man from Campania.
Trait/Character
The majority of congnomina (last names) referred to an individuals character or a trait. These could point out physical features, and more often than not, could be quite offensive. This was because this congnomen usually came from a nickname.
Honorific
On ocassion, an individual might have achieved something great. This called for an honorific surname in recognition of what they had achieved, and was given to them by others. An example of such a name would be Brittanicus meaning victor over the British.
List Of Roman Surnames (Congnomina)
Below we have listed the male and female form of the Roman surnames, along with their meanings.
Male Form Of Surname | Female Form of Surname | Meaning of Surname (Congnomina) |
Aculeo | Aculeo | Prickly, unfriendly |
Agricola | Agricola | Farmer |
Agrippa | Agrippa | Born feet first |
Ahala | Ahala | Armpit |
Ahenobarbus | Ahenobarba | With a red beard |
Albinus | Albina | Pale, white |
Albus | Alba | White or fair-skinned |
Ambustus | Ambusta | Burnt, scalded |
Annalis | Annalis | Relating to years |
Aquila | Aquila | Eagle |
Aquilinus | Aquilina | Eagle-like |
Arvina | Arvina | Fat, lard |
Asellio | Asellio | Keeper of donkeys |
Asina | Asina | Female donkey |
Atellus | Atella | Dark-haired or dark skinned |
Avitus | Avita | Grandfatherly |
Balbus | Balba | Stutterer |
Barba | Barba | A beard |
Barbatus | Barbata | Bearded |
Bassus | Bassa | Plump |
Bestia | Bestia | Like an animal |
Bibaculus | Bibacula | Drunkard |
Bibulus | Bibula | Drunkard |
Blaesus | Blaesa | Someone who mispronounces words, slurs his speech, stammers, or lisps |
Brocchus | Broccha | Toothy |
Brutus | Bruta | Stupid, dull-witted |
Bubulcus | Bubulca | Cattle-driver |
Bucco | Bucco | Fool, dolt |
Bulbus | Bulba | Bulb, onion |
Buteo | Buteo | Buzzard |
Caecus | Caeca | Blind |
Caepio | Caepio | Onion-seller |
Caesar | Caesar | Hairy |
Calidus | Calida | Hot-headed, rash |
Calvinus | Calvina | From cognomen Calvus |
Calvus | Calva | Bald |
Camillus | Camilla | A child who helps during sacrifices |
Caninus | Canina | Dog-like |
Canus | Cana | Golden-haired or grey-haired |
Capito | Capito | Big-headed |
Carbo | Carbo | Charcoal |
Cato | Cato | Shrewd, prudent |
Catulus | Catula | Puppy, whelp |
Celer | Celeris | Quick |
Celsus | Celsa | Tall |
Cicero | Cicero | Chick pea |
Cicurinus | Cicurina | Mild, gentle |
Cilo | Cilo | Large forehead or large lips |
Cincinnatus | Cincinnata | Curly-haired |
Cordus | Corda | Born late |
Cornicen | Cornicen | Military bugler |
Cornutus | Cornuta | Horned |
Corvinus | Corvina | Crow-like |
Corvus | Corva | Crow |
Cossus | Cossa | From archaic praenomen Cossus |
Costa | Costa | A rib |
Crassipes | Crassipes | Club-footed |
Crassus | Crassa | Fat |
Crispinus | Crispina | Curly-haired |
Crispus | Crispa | Curly-haired |
Culleo | Culleo | Leather sack for carrying liquid |
Curio | Curio | Priest of a Curia |
Cursor | Cursor | Runner, courier |
Curvus | Curva | Stooping, bent |
Dentatus | Dentata | Toothy |
Denter | Dentra | Toothy |
Dento | Dento | Toothy |
Dives | Dives | Rich, wealthy |
Dolabella | Dolabella | Hatchet |
Dorsuo | Dorsuo | Large back |
Figulus | Figula | Potter |
Fimbria | Fimbria | Edge of clothing, fringes |
Flaccus | Flacca | Floppy ears |
Flavus | Flava | Blonde-haired |
Florus | Flora | Light-coloured or blooming |
Fronto | Fronto | Prominent forehead |
Fullo | Fullo | A fuller or launderer |
Fusus | Fusa | From archaic praenomen Fusus |
Galeo | Galeo | Helmet |
Gemellus | Gemella | A twin |
Glabrio | Glabrio | A relative of Glaber |
Gurges | Gurges | Greedy, prodigal |
Habitus | Habita | In good physical condition |
Helva | Helva | Dun-colored hair |
Imperiosus | Imperiosa | Domineering, dictatorial |
Iullus | Iulla | From archaic praenomen Iullus |
Labeo | Labeo | Prominent lips |
Lactuca | Lactuca | Lettuce |
Laenas | Laenas | A woolly cloak |
Lanatus | Lanata | Wearing wool |
Laterensis | Laterensis | Person from the hill-side |
Lentulus | Lentula | A bit slow |
Lepidus | Lepida | Charming, amusing |
Licinus | Licina | Spiky- or bristly-haired |
Longus | Longa | Tall |
Lucullus | Luculla | From lucus (grove) or Lucius (praenomen) |
Lupus | Lupa | Wolf |
Lurco | Lurco | Gluttonous, greedy |
Macer | Macra | Thin |
Macula | Macula | A spot or blemish |
Malleolus | Malleola | Hammer |
Mamercus | Mamerca | From rare praenomen Mamercus |
Marcellus | Marcella | From praenomen Marcus |
Merenda | Merenda | Light afternoon meal |
Mergus | Merga | Sea-gull |
Merula | Merula | Blackbird |
Metellus | Metella | Army follower |
Murena | Murena | Eel |
Mus | Mus | Mouse or rat |
Musca | Musca | Fly |
Nasica | Nasica | Big-nosed |
Naso | Naso | Big-nosed |
Natta | Natta | An artisan |
Nepos | Nepos | Grandchild |
Nero | Nero | From rare praenomen Nero (“strong”) |
Nerva | Nerva | Vigorous |
Niger | Nigra | Black-skinned or black-haired |
Novellus | Novella | New, new-fangled |
Ocella | Ocella | Small-eyed |
Pacilus | Pacila | From archaic praenomen Pacilus |
Paetus | Paeta | Squinty or blinking |
Pansa | Pansa | Splay-footed |
Papus | Papa | From rare praenomen Papus |
Paterculus | Patercula | Little father |
Paullus | Paulla | Small |
Pavo | Pavo | Peacock |
Pera | Pera | Shoulder-bag |
Pictor | Pictrix | Painter |
Piso | Piso | Mortar |
Plancus | Planca | Flat-footed |
Plautus | Plauta | Flat-footed |
Poplicola | Poplicola | Friend of the people |
Postumus | Postuma | Born after the father’s death |
Potitus | Potita | Probably derived from an archaic praenomen |
Praeconinus | Praeconina | A relative of a herald |
Praetextatus | Praetextata | Young (wearing the toga praetexta) |
Priscus | Prisca | Very ancient |
Proculus | Procula | From rare praenomen Proculus, perhaps meaning “born during father’s absence” |
Publicola | Publicola | Variant of Poplicola |
Pulcher | Pulchra | Attractive |
Pullus | Pulla | Child |
Pulvillus | Pulvilla | Small cushion |
Purpureo | Purpureo | Wearing purple or with a purplish complexion |
Quadratus | Quadrata | Stocky, squarely built |
Ralla | Ralla | A tunic of fine fabric |
Regillus | Regilla | Prince |
Regulus | Regula | Prince |
Rufus | Rufa | Reddish, Ginger-haired |
Ruga | Ruga | Wrinkly |
Rullus | Rulla | Uncultivated, boorish |
Rutilus | Rutila | Reddish-gold hair |
Salinator | Salinatrix | Salt-harvester |
Saturninus | Saturnina | Dedicated to Saturnus |
Scaeva | Scaeva | Left-handed |
Scaevola | Scaevola | Left-handed |
Scapula | Scapula | Shoulder-blade |
Scaurus | Scaura | Lame, swollen-ankled |
Scipio | Scipio | Rod, staff |
Scrofa | Scrofa | Sow |
Seneca | Seneca | Elderly |
Severus | Severa | Strict, severe |
Silanus | Silana | Nose, water-spout |
Silo | Silo | Snub-nosed |
Silus | Sila | Snub-nosed |
Stolo | Stolo | Shoot of a plant |
Strabo | Strabo | Squinty |
Structus | Structa | Possibly derived from an archaic praenomen |
Sura | Sura | Calf of the leg |
Taurus | Taura | Bull |
Triarius | Triaria | A type of soldier |
Trigeminus | Trigemina | A triplet |
Trio | Trio | One of the seven stars of the Plough / Big Dipper |
Tubero | Tubero | Having a tumour or swelling |
Tubertus | Tuberta | Having a tumour or swelling |
Tubulus | Tubula | Little tube |
Tuditanus | Tuditana | Mallet |
Tullus | Tulla | From rare praenomen Tullus |
Turdus | Turda | Thrush |
Varro | Varro | Block-head |
Varus | Vara | Bow-legged |
Vatia | Vatia | Knock-kneed |
Verres | Verres | Pig |
Vespillo | Vespillo | Person employed to bury people too poor for a funeral |
Vetus | Vetus | Old |
Vitulus | Vitula | Calf or young cow |
Volusus | Volusa | From rare praenomen Volusus |
You can read more of our worldlastnames.com articles below.
- Greek Last Names
- Mexican Last Names
- African American Last Names
- German Last Names
- British last names
- French Last Names
- Arabic Last Names
- Spanish Last Names
- Polish Last Names
- Swedish Last Names