360+ Roman Last Names or Surnames With Family History & Origins

Hey there! Looking for some awesome Roman last names? I’ve been digging into these names lately and they’re seriously fascinating. Ever notice how Romans had these super long, fancy names – like why wasn’t Julius Caesar just called Julius? It’s kind of like having a bunch of middle names today, but way cooler.

You know what’s funny? People back then didn’t just get one name and call it a day. Nope, they had this whole system going on – kind of like how some people today have a first name, middle name, and last name, but the Romans took it to a whole new level. They were like the original name influencers!

I’ve got to tell you, when I first started looking into this stuff, I was pretty blown away. Like, these weren’t just random names they picked because they sounded nice. Each part of their name told a little story – where they came from, what their family was known for, even what they looked like sometimes! Can you imagine being named “Redhead” just because you had red hair? Well, the Romans totally did that.

Want to know the best part? These names are still pretty amazing today. Some of them sound like they could be straight out of a cool fantasy movie, but they were just regular names people used every day in ancient Rome. Pretty wild, right?

So grab a drink, get comfy, and let’s dive into this together. I’ve got some seriously interesting stuff to share about these Roman names – trust me, by the time we’re done, you’ll be looking at names in a whole new way!

Want to explore more historical names? Check out these medieval last names

Roman Last Names with Meanings

Let’s kick things off with some classic Roman last names that’ll make you feel like you’re walking through the streets of ancient Rome!

• Agricola (ah-GRI-ko-la) – Means “farmer”
• Brutus (BROO-tus) – Means “heavy” or “dull”
• Claudius (KLAW-dee-us) – Means “lame” or “disabled”
• Decius (DEK-ee-us) – From “ten”
• Fabius (FAB-ee-us) – Related to beans (yes, really!)
• Gallius (GAL-ee-us) – Means “Gaul”
• Horatius (ho-RAY-shus) – Related to “time”
• Iulius (YOO-lee-us) – Associated with Jupiter
• Juventius (yoo-VEN-tee-us) – Means “youthful”
• Licinius (li-KIN-ee-us) – From “lawful”
• Marius (MAR-ee-us) – Related to Mars
• Nero (NEE-ro) – Means “strong, vigorous”
• Octavius (ok-TAY-vee-us) – Means “eighth”
• Petronius (pe-TRO-nee-us) – From “rocky”
• Quintus (KWIN-tus) – Means “fifth”
• Rufus (ROO-fus) – Means “red-haired”
• Severus (se-VEE-rus) – Means “stern”
• Titus (TY-tus) – Possibly means “defended”
• Valerius (va-LEER-ee-us) – Means “to be strong”
• Vinius (VIN-ee-us) – Related to wine

Looking for more powerful names? Check out these powerful team names

Roman Surnames You’ll Love

These surnames were super common in ancient Rome and each has its own cool story!

• Aemilius – From the word for “rival”
• Antonius – Unknown origin but super famous!
• Cassius – Means “empty, vain”
• Domitius – Means “tamer”
• Flavius – Means “golden” or “yellow-haired”
• Hostilius – Means “stranger” or “enemy”
• Julius – From Jupiter’s name
• Livius – Possibly means “bluish”
• Manlius – Morning-born
• Pompeius – From Pompeii
• Porcius – Related to pigs
• Sempronius – Ancient origin
• Sulpicius – Unknown meaning
• Tarquinius – From Tarquinia (a city)
• Terentius – Means “softening”
• Tullius – Possibly means “speaker”
• Varius – Means “versatile”
• Vergilius – Source of “Virgil”
• Vitellius – Related to vitellus (calf)
• Volumnius – Means “willing”

Interested in historical names? Check out these medieval last names

Ancient Roman Last Names

These are like the vintage designer labels of Roman times – super old and super prestigious!

• Appius (AP-ee-us) – A really ancient name, like seriously old
• Caelius (KAY-lee-us) – Meant someone from the sky or heavens
• Decimus (DES-ih-mus) – Given to the tenth child (imagine having that many kids!)
• Fabius (FAB-ee-us) – These guys were supposedly related to Hercules
• Gaius (GUY-us) – One of the most common names, like “John” today
• Lucius (LOO-see-us) – Meant “light” – pretty poetic, right?
• Marcus (MAR-kus) – Connected to Mars, the war god
• Numerius (noo-MARE-ee-us) – Literally about numbers!
• Publius (PUB-lee-us) – Meant “public” – very democratic!
• Quintus (KWIN-tus) – The fifth child (they were really into numbering kids)
• Servius (SER-vee-us) – Originally meant “to preserve”
• Sextus (SEKS-tus) – You guessed it – the sixth child!
• Spurius (SPOOR-ee-us) – Actually meant “illegitimate” – ouch!
• Tiberius (ty-BEER-ee-us) – Named after the Tiber River
• Titus (TY-tus) – Nobody’s quite sure what it meant
• Trebatius (tre-BAY-shus) – A name from the countryside
• Ulpius (UL-pee-us) – Super rare, very fancy
• Valerius (va-LEER-ee-us) – About being healthy and strong
• Vibius (VIB-ee-us) – Meant “lively” – fun, right?
• Volusus (vo-LOO-sus) – Another mysterious old name

Love ancient names? Check out these Greek last names too!

Roman Family Names

These were like the Kardashians of ancient Rome – everyone knew these families!

• Aemilii – The OG influencers of Rome
• Claudii – Talk about old money!
• Cornelii – These folks were everywhere in Roman politics
• Fabii – Had this cool thing about being descended from Hercules
• Julii – Yeah, like Julius Caesar’s bunch
• Junii – Major players in the Roman game
• Licinii – New money, but made it big
• Manlii – Super strict about their reputation
• Marcii – Old school Roman aristocrats
• Papii – Not the most famous, but definitely respected
• Plautii – Had some serious political chops
• Postumii – Real ancient family
• Rutilii – Known for their red hair
• Sempronii – Big-time reformers
• Sergii – Military family through and through
• Sulpicii – Religious experts
• Tulli – Cicero’s crew!
• Valerii – One of the oldest families around
• Vettii – Made it big in business
• Vitellii – Late bloomers but made their mark

Want more family name ideas? Check out these nature last names

Male Roman Last Names

Hey, check these out – these were the names that made Roman guys sound super important!

• Acilius – Think of it like an ancient power suit
• Bibulus – Fun fact: means “fond of drinking” (yes, really!)
• Cato – Meant “wise” (kind of like calling someone “smarty-pants”)
• Drusus – Super fancy, like wearing a designer toga
• Flaccus – Meant “floppy-eared” (they had a sense of humor!)
• Gallus – Like being called “the French guy” today
• Helvetius – Named after a Celtic tribe
• Lentulus – Meant “slow” (not the best nickname, right?)
• Macer – Meant “skinny” (ancient Romans loved descriptive names)
• Nepos – Literally meant “nephew”
• Opiter – Given to kids whose dads died
• Paetus – Meant “with a slight squint”
• Rufus – For redheads (like being called “ginger”)
• Seneca – Meant “old” (respect your elders!)
• Tacitus – Meant “silent” (the quiet type)
• Varus – For someone with bent legs
• Verres – Meant “boar” (tough guy name)
• Vindex – Like “protector” (pretty cool, right?)
• Vopiscus – For a surviving twin (kinda intense)
• Xenon – For someone with Greek connections

Looking for more powerful names? Check out these warrior team names

Female Roman Last Names

The ladies had their own style – these names were like the ancient Roman version of “girl power”!

• Antonia – The feminine version of Anthony (classic!)
• Caecilia – From a powerful family name
• Claudia – Super popular, like “Jennifer” in the ’90s
• Domitia – Had a royal ring to it
• Fabia – From one of Rome’s oldest families
• Julia – The original influencer name
• Livia – Total power move name
• Lucilla – Meant “little light” (cute, right?)
• Marcella – The feminine Mars connection
• Octavia – Usually meant eighth daughter
• Paulina – Means “small”
• Plautia – From an ancient family
• Pompeia – Very upper-class vibe
• Porcia – Strong and independent
• Scribonia – Writers’ family
• Servilia – Had some serious history
• Sulpicia – Very aristocratic
• Tullia – Cicero’s daughter had this name
• Valeria – Meant “strong”
• Vipsania – Super rare and fancy

Love unique names? Check out these aesthetic group names

Ancient Roman Surnames

You know how some last names today just sound super fancy? Well, these were the original fancy names:

• Aquillius – Meant “eagle-like” (pretty cool, right?)
• Auruncus – From an ancient Italian tribe
• Bibaculus – The party animal of names (meant “little drinker”)
• Cinna – Short but powerful
• Corvinus – Named after ravens
• Dolabella – Meant “little axe”
• Florus – Like “flowery” but make it Roman
• Geminus – For twins!
• Labeo – For someone with big lips
• Merula – Meant “blackbird”
• Nasica – For someone with a pointed nose
• Pera – Meant “little bag”
• Pulcher – Literally meant “beautiful”
• Regulus – Like a “little king”
• Scaevola – For left-handed people
• Strabo – For someone who squinted
• Triarius – A military rank
• Varrus – Meant “bowlegged”
• Verres – Wild as a boar
• Viator – Meant “traveler”

Love ancient vibes? Check out these medieval clan names

Roman Latin Last Names

These names are like the original designer labels of the ancient world:

• Accius (AK-see-us) – Sharp or pointed
• Balbus – The stutterer
• Calvus – For bald people (they kept it real!)
• Draco – Like dragon (way before Harry Potter)
• Falco – Yep, like falcon
• Gracchus – Meant graceful
• Hirtius – Meant shaggy
• Iullus – Super old school
• Lepidus – Charming guy
• Magnus – The big shot
• Nepos – Like “junior”
• Otho – Wealthy one
• Piso – From “pea” (not all names were epic)
• Quirinus – Super religious meaning
• Rufinus – Another redhead name
• Sabinus – From the Sabine people
• Tertius – The third child
• Urbanus – City slicker
• Varus – Bent or knock-kneed
• Xenophon – Greek connection

Want more Latin inspiration? Check out these Latin guild names

Common Roman Last Names

You know how Smith and Jones are super common today? Well, these were the Roman equivalents:

• Caecilius – Everyone knew a Caecilius!
• Cornelius – Like having the last name Johnson
• Fabius – These guys were everywhere
• Flavius – Super popular in late Rome
• Horatius – Think of it as the Roman “Miller”
• Julius – Not just for emperors
• Junius – Basically the Roman “Smith”
• Licinius – Like “Brown” today
• Lucius – As common as dirt (but in a good way!)
• Marius – Everybody’s cousin had this name
• Octavius – Not just for emperors
• Petronius – The Roman “Taylor”
• Porcius – Pretty standard stuff
• Quintius – Super basic (but classic)
• Sempronius – Like “Williams” today
• Sergius – Everyone’s neighbor
• Sextius – Yep, another common one
• Tullius – Think “Anderson”
• Valerius – The Roman “Jones”
• Veturius – Old faithful

Looking for more common names? Check out these popular group names

Popular Roman Last Names

These names were like the trending hashtags of ancient Rome:

• Aemilius – Total power name
• Antonius – Mark Antony made it super cool
• Brutus – Got really popular (wonder why…)
• Cassius – Everyone wanted this name
• Claudius – Major family brand
• Decius – Hot name in the third century
• Felix – Lucky name (literally!)
• Gallus – Trendy choice
• Livius – History buff favorite
• Lucretius – Philosopher vibes
• Marcellus – Popular with the military crowd
• Maximus – Because who doesn’t want to be the greatest?
• Publius – Everyone’s go-to
• Rufinus – Trending in the late empire
• Severus – Way before Snape made it cool
• Silvanus – Nature lover’s choice
• Tacitus – Intellectual favorite
• Tiberius – River city represent!
• Traianus – Emperor made it pop
• Vergilius – The writer’s choice

Want more trending names? Check out these powerful team names

Famous Roman Family Names

These were like the Kardashians of ancient Rome – everybody knew them:

• Aemilii – The trendsetters of Rome
• Antonii – Made famous by Mark Antony himself
• Bruti – Yeah, that Brutus family
• Cornelii – Super old money
• Fabii – Had 306 members die in one battle (yikes!)
• Julii – Caesar’s crew – need I say more?
• Licinii – The “new money” that made it big
• Manlii – Known for being super strict
• Marcelli – The military celebrities
• Metelli – Politics was their game
• Octavii – Augustus’s bunch
• Pompeii – Before the volcano made them famous
• Porcii – Cato’s family (they were kind of a big deal)
• Scipiones – The original war heroes
• Sempronii – Reform was their thing
• Sergii – Had that military swagger
• Tulii – Cicero made them famous
• Valerii – One of the oldest families around
• Claudii – Talk about drama – they had it all
• Domitii – Nero’s family (yeah, that Nero)

Love famous names? Check these powerful team names

Roman Surnames for Boys

Perfect if you’re writing a story or just love ancient names:

• Atticus – Smart and sophisticated
• Caelius – Heaven-sent vibes
• Drusus – Strong and powerful
• Felix – Lucky charm
• Gallio – Smooth operator
• Hadrian – Emperor material
• Ignatius – Fiery personality
• Julius – Classic choice
• Kaeso – Born via C-section (literally!)
• Lucian – Light of the family
• Marcus – War god’s favorite
• Nero – Maybe not the best role model…
• Otho – Wealthy and proud
• Pliny – Scholarly type
• Quintus – High five!
• Romulus – Rome’s founder
• Silius – Forest dweller
• Titus – Honorable mention
• Varrus – Strong and steady
• Xenon – The exotic choice

Need more boy names? Check these team names

Roman Surnames for Girls

These names are absolutely gorgeous – each one’s like a tiny piece of history:

• Aurelia – Means “golden” (how pretty is that?)
• Camilla – Perfect for a warrior princess
• Drusilla – Strong and elegant
• Flavia – Had that golden-girl vibe
• Hostilia – Fierce and proud
• Lucilla – Little light
• Martina – Mars’s daughter vibes
• Octavia – Super classy choice
• Plautia – Old money elegance
• Priscilla – Ancient and respected
• Regilla – Little queen
• Sabina – Nature lover’s pick
• Tertulla – Sweet third daughter
• Tullia – Smart cookie
• Valeria – Strong and beautiful
• Varinia – Exotic charm
• Verginia – Pure and lovely
• Vipsania – Super rare
• Vibia – Lively spirit
• Xanthippe – Greek flair

Want more girl names? Check these group names for girls

List of A to Z Roman Last Names

Here’s that A to Z list you’ve been waiting for! Three awesome names for each letter:

A

• Acilius (noble family)
• Agrippa (wild horse)
• Aurelius (golden)

B

• Balbus (stammerer)
• Brutus (heavy)
• Bibulus (drinker)

C

• Cato (wise)
• Cicero (chickpea)
• Claudius (lame)

D

• Decius (tenth)
• Drusus (strong)
• Domitius (tamer)

E

• Egnatius (fiery)
• Ennius (ancient)
• Equitius (knight)

F

• Fabius (bean grower)
• Flavius (golden)
• Fulvius (tawny)

G

• Galba (fat)
• Gracchus (graceful)
• Gellius (frost)

H

• Horatius (timekeeper)
• Hostilius (stranger)
• Hirtius (hairy)

I

• Iulius (downy-bearded)
• Iunius (young)
• Iuventius (youthful)

Love alphabetical lists? Check these team names that start with A

J

• Junius (youth-blessed)
• Juventius (forever young)
• Julius (soft-bearded)

K

• Kaeso (born by surgery)
• Kalvus (the bald one)
• Kanus (the wise one)

L

• Licinius (law keeper)
• Livius (bluish)
• Lucretius (wealth)

M

• Marius (manly)
• Maximus (greatest)
• Municius (duty-bound)

N

• Nepos (nephew)
• Nero (strong)
• Norbanus (from the north)

O

• Octavius (eighth born)
• Opimius (abundant)
• Otho (wealthy)

P

• Paulinus (small)
• Plinius (scholar)
• Pompeius (five)

Q

• Quintius (fifth)
• Quirinius (spear)
• Quietus (peaceful)

R

• Rufus (red-haired)
• Rutilius (reddish)
• Regulus (little king)

S

• Seneca (old one)
• Severus (stern)
• Silanus (forest dweller)

T

• Tacitus (silent)
• Tiberius (from Tiber)
• Tullius (speaker)

U

• Ulpius (fox-like)
• Umbrenus (shady)
• Urbanus (city dweller)

V

• Valerius (strong)
• Verres (boar-like)
• Vitellius (life-giving)

W

(Romans didn’t use W, but here are some Latinized versions)

• Wallius (wall dweller)
• Willius (willing)
• Wulfius (wolf-like)

X

• Xenon (stranger)
• Xenius (hospitable)
• Xerxius (ruler)

Y

(Like W, Y wasn’t common in Latin, but here are some adaptations)

• Yngius (young one)
• Yulius (youthful)
• Yventius (helpful)

Z

• Zeno (gift of Zeus)
• Zosimus (viable)
• Zoticus (full of life)

Love alphabetical organization? Check these team names that start with Z

The Story Behind Roman Names

You know how today we might introduce ourselves with just a first and last name? Well, the Romans had a totally different approach. Their naming system was like a carefully crafted puzzle, telling you everything from someone’s family history to their social status. Pretty cool, right?

Learn more about other historical naming traditions

The Three-Part Name Game

Roman names typically had three main parts (though some people had even more!):

• The praenomen – think of it as their first name
• The nomen – the family name (what we’d call a last name today)
• The cognomen – kind of like a nickname or descriptor that stuck around

The Building Blocks – Structure of Roman Names

Let me break this down with a fun example. Take the famous Marcus Tullius Cicero:

Name Part	Example	What It Means
Praenomen	Marcus	Personal name
Nomen	Tullius	Family name
Cognomen	Cicero	Nickname (“chickpea” – yes, really!)

Discover more about Latin family names

Where Did These Names Come From?

Roman last names came from all sorts of interesting places. Let me share some of the most common sources:

1. Occupational Origins

Just like we have Smiths and Bakers today, Romans had family names based on what their ancestors did. For instance:

• Figulus – meant “potter”
• Fabricius – came from “craftsman”
• Agricola – meant “farmer”

2. Geographical Connections

Some families got their names from where they came from or owned land. Think of it like someone being called “York” because their family came from York.

3. Personal Characteristics

This is where it gets really interesting! Many Roman last names started as descriptions of a family ancestor:

• Rufus – meant “red-haired”
• Magnus – meant “great” or “large”
• Longus – meant “tall”

Check out more nature-inspired surnames

The Big Names in Roman Society

You know how today we have famous family names like Kennedy or Rockefeller? Well, Rome had its share of power families too. Let’s check out some of the biggest names that basically ran the show:

Imperial Names That Packed a Punch

The name Caesar became such a big deal that it’s still used today – we even get words like “Czar” and “Kaiser” from it! But here’s something cool: it might have started as a nickname meaning “hairy” (I know, right?).

Want to explore more powerful names? Check out our powerful team names guide

Some other super important family names were:

• Augustus – became the title for emperors
• Flavian – gave us three emperors in a row
• Claudian – ruled for quite a while and gave us some pretty wild characters

How Names Changed Over Time

So here’s something interesting – Roman names kept evolving, kind of like how our naming traditions change today. During the Republic (that’s before they had emperors), having three names was the cool thing to do. But later? Some folks went wild with super long names!

Social Class and Your Name

This is where it gets really interesting. Your name was like wearing a designer label – it told everyone exactly where you stood in society:

• Patricians: These were the fancy folks who had long, impressive names with multiple parts
• Plebeians: Regular citizens who usually kept it simpler
• Freedmen: Former slaves who took their former master’s family name

Interested in noble names? Check out these Victorian surnames

Women’s Names in Ancient Rome

Okay, this might surprise you – Roman women’s names were super simple compared to men’s. Most times, they just used their dad’s family name in feminine form. So a guy named Cornelius would have a daughter named Cornelia. Pretty straightforward, right?

Some famous Roman women’s names:

• Livia – from the Livian family
• Julia – from the Julian family
• Claudia – from the Claudian family

Names in Stories and Myths

The Romans loved their mythology, and it showed in their names! Some families claimed they were descended from gods or heroes. Talk about a cool family story to tell at parties!

Popular mythological family names included:

• Fabius – claimed descent from Hercules
• Julius – said they came from Venus herself
• Antonius – traced their line back to Anton, a son of Hercules

Love mythology? You might enjoy these angelic last names

How Roman Names Shaped Modern Surnames

You know how some names just sound super old and important? There’s probably a good chance they’ve got Roman roots! It’s kind of like how recipes get passed down through families – names worked the same way.

Check out these western last names that might have Roman influences

Names That Survived the Test of Time

Some Roman family names are still kicking around today, just with a modern twist:

• Paul (from Paulus)
• Martin (from Martinus)
• Marcus/Mark (from Marcus)

Want to Research Your Own Roman Name Connection?

Here’s the fun part – you might actually have Roman ancestry in your family tree! Let me share some tips on how to dig into this:

1. Start with your current last name
2. Look for Latin root words
3. Check historical records from Southern Europe
4. Consider variations in spelling

Love genealogy? Explore these Catholic last names with potential Roman roots

Speaking Roman: Quick Guide to Pronunciation

Ever wondered if you’re saying these names right? Don’t worry – I’ve got you covered! Here’s a super simple guide:

Modern Name	Roman Version	How to Say It
Cesar	Caesar	KAI-sar
Julie	Julia	YOO-li-a
Marcus	Marcus	MAR-kus

Roman Names in Today’s World

Think Roman names are just ancient history? Think again! They’re everywhere:

• Movie characters (Maximus in Gladiator – so cool!)
• Company names (ever noticed how many law firms use Latin words?)
• Scientific terms (lots of Roman naming conventions here)

Interested in modern takes on classical names? Check out these galactic surnames

Fun Facts About Roman Names

Let me drop some cool trivia that’ll make you sound super smart at your next dinner party:

• The name “emperor” comes from imperator – a Roman military title
• Roman numbers were often used as names (like Quintus for the fifth child)
• Some Roman nicknames were surprisingly silly (remember Cicero means “chickpea”!)

Why Roman Names Still Matter

These names aren’t just dusty old history – they tell us so much about where we came from and how people lived. It’s like having a time machine made of words!

Love historical names? Explore these medieval last names too

The Big Takeaway

You know what’s really cool about all this? Roman names show us that people back then weren’t so different from us. They cared about family, wanted to stand out, and sometimes gave each other funny nicknames – just like we do!

Quick Tips for Remembering Roman Names:

• Think of them like modern nicknames
• Look for the meaning behind the name
• Notice how they connect to modern words
• Remember they’re part of a bigger family story

Ready to explore more historical names? Start with these Greek last names

Modern Takes on Roman Classics

Think about these common names – they’re basically Roman names in disguise:

• Julian (from Julius)
• Claudia (still exactly the same!)
• Valentine (from Valentinus)

Looking for modern name inspiration? Check out these nature last names

Cool Ways to Use Roman Naming Ideas

Want to name something with a Roman flair? Here’s what lots of people do today:

• Pet names (Zeus is super popular!)
• Game character names
• Team names
• Business names

Speaking of names for groups, you might want to check out some creative team names that draw from Roman inspiration!

Fun Modern Examples

Ever notice how some brands use Roman names? Like:

• Nike (Roman goddess of victory)
• Mars (candy bar named after a Roman god)
• Oracle (named after Roman fortune-tellers)

Tips for Choosing a Roman-Inspired Name

If you’re thinking about using a Roman name for anything, here’s what I’d suggest:

• Pick something you can actually pronounce
• Look up what it means (trust me, you don’t want any awkward surprises!)
• Make sure it feels right for today’s world

Need more naming ideas? Here are some powerful team names

Why People Still Love Roman Names

Roman names just have this special something, don’t they? They’re:

• Powerful sounding
• Rich in meaning
• Kind of mysterious
• Super unique

Quick Recap

So what have we learned about Roman names? They’re:

• More than just fancy old words
• Still super relevant today
• Full of hidden meanings
• Great for inspiration

Want more historical name ideas? Check out these Victorian last names

You know what’s really cool? Even after all these years, Roman names still have this amazing ability to make things sound important and special. Whether you’re naming a pet, creating a character, or just curious about names, Roman naming traditions give us so much to work with!

Want to explore even more name ideas? Take a look at these unique group names!

That’s all for our Roman names adventure! Pretty amazing how something so ancient can still be so relevant today, right? What’s your favorite Roman name? I’d love to hear which ones caught your attention!

Remember, whether you’re researching your family history or just love learning about names, Roman naming traditions are like a gift that keeps on giving. They remind us that even though times change, people have always put a lot of thought and meaning into what they call themselves and others.

Keep exploring those names – you never know what cool connections you might find! 😊