Praenomina

• Praenomina was the first of the three names required by Roman Citizenship.
• Women were not required to have a Praenomina from the Late Republic onwards.

Description

• Roman Citizenship required Roman Names and these were in use between c.700 BCE to c.300 CE.
  • Praenomina (First Name)
    • These fell into disuse after the 2nd century CE.
    • Chosen by the parents and different for each child.
    • The next generation chose the same Praenomina to distinguish that family from other families. So grandfather, father and son would often have the same Praenomina.
  • Nomen (Clan Name)
    • This designated which clan or Gens the citizen belonged to.
    • It didn’t change and was passed down from father to son.
  • Cognomen (Family Surname)
    • These were added as Praenomina (First Names) fell into disuse after 100 BCE.
    • They changed from individual to individual. They were chosen by the individual and could be selected from nicknames, place of origin names, type of occupation, etc,.
    • Individuals could have 3 or 4 Cognomen.

• Women’s Names:
  1. Praenomina
     • Women did not have a Praenomina from the Late Republic onwards.
  2. Nomen
     • This was the same as the Father’s Clan name.
     • To distinguish four daughters named Claudia: Claudia Major, Claudia Minor, Claudia Tertia, Claudia Quartia.
  3. Cognomen
     • From the second century CE onwards a feminine form of the Father’s Cognomen would be added.