Roman Naming Practices.

[Doug Strong]

I was more interested in his desire to be on Hadrian's Wall, where most of the soldiers were auxiliaries, with the Legions being stationed further away, at least if you believe many of the current studies on that subject. Since Fortus and Fabricus are not documented originally as Roman citizen names, and usually assigned to people who started off as non-citizen families, I was actually trying to fit a background to a desired name sequence.

Many of the remarks made in the posts above are generalizations about Roman naming practices, and do not fit the reality of the records we have available. Some of the "Roman naming sites" on the internet are full of errors and made-up names, yet sometimes people actually quote them as proof that this or that name was used in antiquity.

For example: 'Fortus is a well-known cognomen', but how often is it actually used, and by whcih class of people? Is it used in conjunction with "Cornelia", or is it only used with certain gens, unless signifying a servile origin? When do you find it used with 'Fabricius' when it does not suggest an originally non-citizen connection.

It's all very well to randomly pick and mix and match some Roman names or Roman-sounding names, but I feel much thought and research should go into a Roman name, especially if you plan to use it to describe yourself.

Thanks, this is exactly the reason I asked the question. I guess I still need help. I am not married to hadiran's wall and I think a first century impression seems to fit with what most reeanctment groups in the states seem to do. That way if I ever get a kit built I may actually be able to do someting with it.

[Caius Fabius]

Do you want to be a legionary or an auxiliary soldier? That would have a bit of a difference about which names are available. Cornelia is the gens of a patrician family, for example. (but a male would call himself Cornelius) as in the historical examples...


Famous members of the gens Cornelia

* Servius Cornelius Maluginensis (Cossus), consul 485 BC
* Lucius Cornelius Ser.f. Maluginensis Uritus (Cossus), consul 459 BC
* Marcus Cornelius Maluginensis, decemvir 450 BC
* Marcus Cornelius Maluginensis, consul 436 BC
* Aulus Cornelius Cossus, consul 428 BC
* Publius Cornelius Cossus, consular tribune 415 BC
* Aulus Marcus Cornelius Cossus, consular tribune 413 BC
* Gnaeus Cornelius A.f. Cossus, consul 409 BC
* Publius (or Servius) Cornelius Maluginensis, consul 393 BC and later(?)
* Lucius Cornelius P.f. Scipio, consul 350 BC
* Aulus Cornelius P.f. Cossus Arvina, consul 343 BC, 332 BC
* Publius Cornelius Scapula, consul 326 BC
* Lucius Cornelius Lentulus, consul 326 BC?
* Publius Cornelius A.f. Arvina, consul 306 BC, 288 BC
* Servius Cornelius Cn.f. Lentulus, consul 303 BC
* Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus, consul 298 BC
* Publius Cornelius Cn.f. Rufinus, consul 290 BC
* Publius Cornelius Dolabella, consul 283 BC
* Publius Cornelius Cn.f. Rufinus, consul 277 BC (II?)
* Cornelius Ti.f Lentulus Caudinus, consul 275 BC
* Servius Cornelius P.f. Merenda, 274 BC
* Gnaeus Cornelius P.f. Blasio, 270 BC, 257 BC
* Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Asina, consul 260 BC, 254 BC
* Lucius Cornelius Scipio, consul 259 BC
* Lucius Cornelius L.f. Lentulus Caudinus, consul 237 BC
* Publius Cornelius L.f. Lentulus Caudinus, consul 236 BC
* Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus, consul 222 BC
* Publius Cornelius Cn.f. Scipio Asina, consul 221 BC
* Publius Cornelius Scipio, consul 218 BC
* Scipio Africanus, famous general
* Marcus Cornelius M.f. Cethegus, consul 204 BC
* Gnaeus Cornelius L.f. Lentulus, consul 201 BC
* Lucius Cornelius Lentulus, consul 199 BC
* Gaius Cornelius L.f. Cethegus, consul 197 BC
* Lucius Cornelius L.f. Merula, consul 193 BC
* Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica, consul 191 BC
* Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus, consul 190 BC
* Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Minor, son of Major
* Publius Cornelius L.f. Cethegus, consul 181 BC
* Gnaeus Cornelius Cn.f. Scipio Hispallus, consul 176 BC
* Lucius Cornelius Scipio, praetor 174 BC
* Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Corculum, consul 162 BC, 155 BC
* Marcus Cornelius Cethegus, consul 160 BC
* Gnaeus Cornelius Dolabella, consul 159 BC
* Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Lupus, consul 156 BC
* Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus Africanus Numantinus. Known as Scipio the Younger
* Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Serapio, consul 138 BC
* Publius Cornelius Scipio Salvito, first husband of Scribonia, he d between 48 BC and 46 BC
* Lucius Cornelius Cinna, consul 87 BC
* Gnaeus Cornelius Dollabella, consul 81 BC
* Lucius Cornelius Sulla - "Felix", Consul 88 BC & 80 BC, Dictator "rei publicae constituendae causa", circa: 82 BC - 80 BC. Known as Sulla
* Gnaeus Cornelius Dolabella, praetor 81 BC, proconsul 80 BC
* Gaius Cornelius, quaestor for Pompey, tribune 67 BC
* Publius Cornelius Dolabella, consul 44 BC
* Lucius Cornelius Cinna, praetor 44 BC
* Gaius Cornelius Gallus, first prefect of Aegyptus 30 BC
* Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus, consul 18 BC
* Publius Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus, consul 18 BC
* Publius Cornelius Scipio, consul 16 BC
* Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus the Augur, consul 14 BC
* Lucius Cornelius Sulla, consul 5 BC
* Lucius Cornelius Lentulus, consul 3 BC
* Cossus Cornelius Lentulus, consul 1 BC
* Gnaeus Cornelius Cinna Magnus, consul AD 5
* Publius Cornelius Dolabella, consul 10
* Cornelius Severus, poet during Augustus Caesar
* Servius Cornelius Cethegus, consul 24
* Cossus Cornelius Lentulus, consul 25
* Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Gaetulicus, consul 26
* Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix, consul 33
* Servius Cornelius Salvidienus Orfitus, consul 51
* Faustus Cornelius Sulla Felix, consul 52
* Faustus Cornelius Sulla Felix Barbatullus, consul 60
* Publius Cornelius Scipio, consul 52
* Cossus Cornelius Lentulus, consul 60
* Gaius Cornelius Tacitus, historian
* Servius Cornelius Dolabella Petronianus, consul 86
* Aulus Cornelius Palma Frontonianus, consul 99, 109
* Marcus Cornelius Fronto, grammarian 2nd century
* Servius Cornelius Scipio Salvidienus Orfitus, consul 110
* Cornelius Pansa, consul 122
* Lucius Octavius Cornelius P. Slauius Iulianus Aemilianus, consul 148
* Servius Cornelius Scipio L. Saluidienus Orfitus, consul 149
* Numerius Cornelius Sulla Felix Faustullus Barbatullus, consul 150
* Manlis Acilius Glabrio Cn. Cornelius Severus, consul 152
* Marcus Gavius Cornelius Cethegus, consul 170
* Servius Cornelius Scipio Saluidienus Orfitus, consul 178

ref. [url:1ru300cc]http://www.answers.com/topic/cornelius-gens[/url] for all those who like to have verification in an easy to find internet link, this is available for your ease of use.

[Doug Strong]

What are the implications for me of bring roman versus auxillary as a reenactor?

[Caius Fabius]

Name implications or over all?

Roman citizens only were in the first century legions, while non-citizens could join the navy or auxiliary forces and earn citizenship. (There are some few exceptions). A non-citizen could have been born in Rome, or Italy, yet not be a citizen. He could be the son of a free born man, or the son of a freed man, and yet not be a citizen. He could buy his citizenship, or earn it in military service.

Names were constructed so that a Roman could hear/read a name and see if the person was a member of the founding fathers, or of the original citizenship, or a new man (still a citizen) or a free man who was not a citizen, or a freedman who was a citizen or not a citizen, or a foreigner.

This can get very complicated, depending upon the time frame, but is generally not to difficult to decipher in the 1st century.

Senatorial families sons would not be in the rank and file of the Legions. Equestrians might be, but were probably in a fast track to promotion if they didn't start as junior officers. (Tribunes are different from this.) The great bulk of the legion was made up from the sons of plebeian Roman citizens, often who had no other livelihood available, for various political-socio-economic reasons.

[Doug Strong]

Were there English auxilaries in the 1st century?

[caiusbeerquitius]

Of course not, because England did not exist yet at that time. Britain auxiliares, yes.

[Caius Fabius]

I got in COHORS (2) by Spaul today. It will help me trace auxiliary units from Britain, and units in Britain, but at 570+ pages, it will take a while to review. I already had his book on the ALA (2) so now I can get some research done that was on hold... and maybe I can answer your questions about British units and units that were in Britain before Diocletian.

hock: shock: ) ) shock:

[Gaius Marius Cingetorix]

Try Romans and Aliens

[url:2ihvkqoq]http://romanhistorybooks.typepad.com/roman_history_books_and_m/2006/04/source_book_rom.html[/url]

Its an easy read, has a chapter on naming practices in multiple periods, only like a $2 on amazon for the hardback. Helped me to become a citizen in name without having to change my original gallic name.

[Caius Fabius]

Yes, that is a good book for getting started.

Doug, check your private messages (at the top of the page).

[Marcus Julius]

Try Romans and Aliens

[url:3jxt68oi]http://romanhistorybooks.typepad.com/roman_history_books_and_m/2006/04/source_book_rom.html[/url]

Its an easy read, has a chapter on naming practices in multiple periods, only like a $2 on amazon for the hardback. Helped me to become a citizen in name without having to change my original gallic name.

Thanks for that one. Are there any more books I can look for without breaking the bank?
Within the SCA's knowledge base, there appears to be a hole between 1st Century Rome and Byzantine.

[Gaius Marius Cingetorix]

Look for some of the inexpensive Classics in your local used book emporium or amazon. The Conquest of Gaul (Penguin Classics) $3.63 used. [url:3ea8xynd]http://www.amazon.com/Conquest-Gaul-Penguin-Classics/dp/0140444335/sr=8-8/qid=1157125047/ref=pd_bbs_8/104-4353617-3917539?ie=UTF8&s=books[/url]

If this is for the SCA name registration process, drop me an PM and I may be able to help. We have several awesome Heralds around here that don't get all snotty when you do a persona out side of the unwritten time frame. hock: Here is a link to my name approval, might give you an idea. [url:3ea8xynd]http://www.sca-caid.org/herald/minutes/2003/min0310.html[/url] Scroll about halfway down to Steinsee, and there I am.