178+ Roman Last Names With Meanings

Roman last names, or cognomina, were more than just family identifiers; they were often descriptive nicknames that distinguished different branches of a clan (gens). In ancient Rome, a man’s full name followed the tria nomina system: a personal name (praenomen), a clan name (nomen), and a hereditary family name (cognomen).

In 2026, as fascination with the “Eternal City” and classical antiquity remains a cornerstone of historical fiction and branding, these 178+ Roman last names offer a legacy of power, wit, and Roman virtue.

The Imperial Registry: A to Z

A to D – From Eagles to The Blind

1. Acisculus – Meaning “A little adze” (a tool).
2. Aculeo – Meaning “Prickly” or “Unfriendly.”
3. Aebutius – A member of the ancient Aebutia clan.
4. Aelius – Meaning “Sun.”
5. Aemilius – Meaning “Rival” or “Eager.”
6. Agricola – Meaning “Farmer.”
7. Agrippa – Meaning “Born feet first.”
8. Ahala – Meaning “Armpit” (A nickname for the Servilia clan).
9. Ahenobarbus – Meaning “Bronze-beard” or “Red-beard.”
10. Albinus – Meaning “White” or “Pale.”
11. Albus – Meaning “Fair-skinned.”
12. Ambustus – Meaning “Scalded” or “Burnt.”
13. Annalis – Meaning “Relating to the years/history.”
14. Annius – An ancient Roman family name.
15. Antonius – Meaning “Priceless” or “Inestimable.”
16. Appius – An ancient name associated with the Appian Way.
17. Aquila – Meaning “Eagle.”
18. Aquilius – Meaning “Eagle-like.”
19. Arvina – Meaning “Fat” or “Lard.”
20. Asellio – Meaning “Keeper of donkeys.”
21. Asina – Meaning “She-donkey.”
22. Asinius – Derived from the word for “Ass/Donkey.”
23. Atellus – Meaning “Dark-haired.”
24. Atticus – Meaning “Man from Attica (Greece).”
25. Augustus – Meaning “Majestic” or “Venerable.”
26. Aurelius – Meaning “Golden.”
27. Avitus – Meaning “Grandfatherly.”
28. Balbus – Meaning “Stutterer.”
29. Barba – Meaning “Beard.”
30. Barbatus – Meaning “Bearded.”
31. Bassus – Meaning “Plump” or “Stout.”
32. Bestia – Meaning “Like an animal.”
33. Bibaculus – Meaning “A drunkard.”
34. Bibulus – Meaning “Fond of drinking.”
35. Blaesus – Meaning “One who lisps/slurs.”
36. Brocchus – Meaning “Toothy” or “Prominent teeth.”
37. Brutus – Meaning “Heavy” or “Dull-witted.”
38. Bubulcus – Meaning “Cattle-driver.”
39. Bucco – Meaning “A fool.”
40. Bulbus – Meaning “Onion” or “Bulb.”
41. Buteo – Meaning “Buzzard.”
42. Caecilius – Meaning “Blind.”
43. Caecus – Meaning “The Blind.”
44. Caepio – Meaning “Onion-seller.”
45. Caesar – Meaning “Hairy” or “Thick head of hair.”
46. Calidus – Meaning “Hot-headed.”
47. Calpurnius – Meaning “Chalice.”
48. Calvinus – Meaning “Bald.”
49. Calvus – Meaning “Bald head.”
50. Camillus – Meaning “Religious acolyte.”
51. Caninus – Meaning “Dog-like.”
52. Canus – Meaning “Gray-haired.”
53. Capito – Meaning “Big-headed.”
54. Carbo – Meaning “Charcoal.”
55. Cassius – Meaning “Vain” or “Empty.”
56. Catilina – A famous Roman revolutionary name.
57. Cato – Meaning “Shrewd” or “Wise.”
58. Catulus – Meaning “Puppy” or “Whelp.”
59. Celer – Meaning “Swift” or “Quick.”
60. Celsus – Meaning “Tall” or “High.”
61. Cethegus – An ancient name of the Cornelia clan.
62. Cicero – Meaning “Chickpea” (referring to a facial wart).
63. Cicurinus – Meaning “Mild” or “Gentle.”
64. Cilo – Meaning “Large forehead.”
65. Cincinnatus – Meaning “Curly-haired.”
66. Cinna – A prominent name in the Cornelia clan.
67. Claudius – Meaning “Lame” or “Limping.”
68. Clemens – Meaning “Merciful.”
69. Cocceius – An ancient family name.
70. Cordus – Meaning “Born late.”
71. Cornicen – Meaning “Bugler.”
72. Cornelius – Meaning “Horn.”
73. Cornutus – Meaning “Horned.”
74. Corvinus – Meaning “Crow-like.”
75. Corvus – Meaning “Raven.”
76. Costa – Meaning “A rib.”
77. Cotta – Associated with the Aurelia clan.
78. Crassipes – Meaning “Club-footed.”
79. Crassus – Meaning “Fat” or “Thick.”
80. Crispinus – Meaning “Curly-haired.”
81. Crispus – Meaning “Curly.”
82. Culleo – Meaning “Leather sack.”
83. Curio – Meaning “Priest of a curia.”
84. Cursor – Meaning “Runner” or “Courier.”
85. Curvus – Meaning “Bent” or “Stooped.”
86. Dentatus – Meaning “Toothy.”
87. Denter – Meaning “With prominent teeth.”
88. Dento – Meaning “Full of teeth.”
89. Dives – Meaning “Rich” or “Wealthy.”
90. Dolabella – Meaning “Little hatchet.”
91. Domitius – Meaning “Tamed.”
92. Dorsuo – Meaning “Large back.”
93. Drusus – Meaning “Strong” or “Sturdy.”

E to P – From Luck to The Small

1. Ennius – An ancient literary name.
2. Fabius – Meaning “Bean grower.”
3. Fabricius – Meaning “Craftsman.”
4. Faustus – Meaning “Fortunate.”
5. Felix – Meaning “Lucky” or “Happy.”
6. Festus – Meaning “Festive.”
7. Figulus – Meaning “Potter.”
8. Fimbria – Meaning “Fringes of a garment.”
9. Flaccus – Meaning “Flap-eared” or “Floppy ears.”
10. Flavius – Meaning “Golden” or “Blonde.”
11. Florus – Meaning “Blooming.”
12. Fronto – Meaning “Prominent forehead.”
13. Frugi – Meaning “Honest” or “Frugal.”
14. Fullo – Meaning “A launderer.”
15. Fulvius – Meaning “Tawny” or “Yellowish.”
16. Gabinius – Meaning “From Gabii.”
17. Galeo – Meaning “Helmet.”
18. Gellius – An ancient family name.
19. Gemellus – Meaning “A twin.”
20. Glabrio – Meaning “Smooth” or “Hairless.”
21. Gracchus – A famous family of reformers.
22. Gurges – Meaning “Greedy” or “Whirlpool.”
23. Habitus – Meaning “In good condition.”
24. Hadrianus – Meaning “From Hadria.”
25. Helva – Meaning “Dun-colored hair.”
26. Horatius – Meaning “Timekeeper.”
27. Hortensius – Meaning “Of the garden.”
28. Ignatius – Meaning “Fiery.”
29. Imperiosus – Meaning “Domineering.”
30. Italus – Meaning “Of Italy.”
31. Julius – Meaning “Youthful” or “Downy-bearded.”
32. Junius – Meaning “Born in June” or “Youthful.”
33. Justus – Meaning “Just” or “Fair.”
34. Labeo – Meaning “Large lips.”
35. Lactuca – Meaning “Lettuce.”
36. Laenas – Meaning “Woolly cloak.”
37. Lanatus – Meaning “Wearing wool.”
38. Laevinus – Meaning “Left-handed.”
39. Lentulus – Meaning “Slow” or “Sluggish.”
40. Lepidus – Meaning “Charming” or “Elegant.”
41. Licinius – An ancient plebeian clan name.
42. Livius – Meaning “Envious” or “Lead-colored.”
43. Longinus – Meaning “The Long One” or “Tall.”
44. Lucilius – Meaning “Light.”
45. Lucius – Meaning “Light.”
46. Lucretius – Meaning “Wealth” or “Profit.”
47. Lucullus – Meaning “Little grove.”
48. Lupus – Meaning “Wolf.”
49. Macer – Meaning “Lean” or “Thin.”
50. Magnus – Meaning “Great.”
51. Malleolus – Meaning “Small hammer.”
52. Mamercus – Associated with the god Mars.
53. Marcellus – Meaning “Little warrior.”
54. Marcius – Meaning “Warlike.”
55. Marcus – Meaning “Dedicated to Mars.”
56. Marius – Meaning “Male” or “Of Mars.”
57. Maximus – Meaning “Greatest.”
58. Messalla – Meaning “From Messana.”
59. Metellus – Meaning “Hired servant” (ironically noble).
60. Murena – Meaning “Lamprey (fish).”
61. Naso – Meaning “The Nose.”
62. Nero – Meaning “Strong” or “Vigorous.”
63. Niger – Meaning “Black” or “Dark.”
64. Octavius – Meaning “Eighth.”
65. Paulus – Meaning “Small” or “Humble.”
66. Pius – Meaning “Devout” or “Pious.”
67. Plautus – Meaning “Flat-footed.”
68. Pompeius – Meaning “Five” or “Procession.”
69. Pontius – Meaning “Of the bridge.”

Q to Z – From Fifth to The Strong

1. Quintus – Meaning “Fifth.”
2. Regulus – Meaning “Prince” or “Little King.”
3. Rufus – Meaning “Red-haired.”
4. Rullus – Meaning “Unrefined” or “Rustic.”
5. Sabinus – Meaning “Of the Sabine people.”
6. Salvius – Meaning “Safe.”
7. Scaevola – Meaning “Left-handed.”
8. Scipio – Meaning “Staff” or “Scepter.”
9. Seneca – Meaning “Old” or “Wise.”
10. Septimius – Meaning “Seventh.”
11. Sextus – Meaning “Sixth.”
12. Silvanus – Meaning “Of the woods.”
13. Sulla – Meaning “Porker” or “Pied.”
14. Tacitus – Meaning “Silent” or “Quiet.”
15. Titus – Meaning “Honorable.”
16. Traianus – Meaning “From Traia.”
17. Tullius – Meaning “Peaceful” or “Of the flood.”
18. Valerius – Meaning “Strong” or “Healthy.”
19. Varro – Meaning “Strong” or “Durable.”
20. Vespasianus – Meaning “Wasp.”
21. Vitruvius – An ancient name of builders.

The Tria Nomina: Deciphering Roman Names

The Roman naming system was a hierarchical structure that reflected social status, lineage, and personal character.

1. Nomen (The Clan)

The nomen gentilicium was the most important part of a name, identifying the person’s gens (clan). Names ending in -ius, such as Julius, Claudius, or Cornelius, signaled that the individual belonged to a specific ancestral house.

2. Cognomen (The Family Branch)

Originally nicknames based on physical traits—like Cicero (chickpea) or Rufus (red-haired)—these eventually became hereditary surnames. They were used to distinguish different family lines within the same massive clan.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Summary

From the soaring heights of Aquila to the stoic wisdom of Seneca, Roman surnames capture a vast spectrum of history and virtue. They provide a solid foundation for understanding the lineage of the Eternal City. In 2026, these names continue to bridge classical traditions with modern historical identity.