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The [[Latin]] '''nomen gentilicium''' (generally simplifed as '''nomen''') was the second or '''family name''' in the [[Roman]] system of naming convension.    Originally intended to convey ones [[gens]]/family or patrilineal ancestry, the mass conversion of non-Latin stock to Roman customs and conventions found the meaning of the ''nomen gentilicium'' lost to the flood of adoption of classic [[Latin]] names by the non-Latin derived subjects which now flooded the empire via conquest or migration.

The [[Latin]] '''nomen gentilicium''' (generally simplifed as '''nomen''') was the second or '''family name''' in the [[Roman]] system of naming convension.    Originally intended to convey ones [[gens]]/family or patrilineal ancestry, the mass conversion of non-Latin stock to Roman customs and conventions found the meaning of the ''nomen gentilicium'' lost to the flood of adoption of classic [[Latin]] names by the non-Latin derived subjects which now flooded the empire via conquest or migration.

Following the [[Praenomen]], the '''nomen''' could be followed by the embelishing [[cognomen]] and more honourary [[agnomen]].  It can also be said that the [[Roman]] '''nomen''' conforms most closely to the modern English '''last name''' (despite modern last names being regularly a direct [[cognomen]] and even sometimes being an [[agnomen]]).

Following the [[Praenomen]], the '''nomen''' could be followed by the embelishing [[cognomen]] and more honourary [[agnomen]].  It can also be said that the [[Roman]] '''nomen''' conforms most closely to modern European '''last names'''; despite modern last names being regularly a direct [[cognomen]] such as ''Smith, Thatcher, Weaver, White, Black, Yellow, van Dam<ref>Dutch: literally "from the dam"</ref>, von Albrecht<ref>German: literally "from Albrecht"</ref> Duchateau<ref>French: literally "from the castle"</ref>, Deschamps<ref>French: literally "from the fields"</ref>, Castellano<ref>Spanish: literally "from Castile"</ref>'' and sometimes more closely resembles an [[agnomen]] such as ''Brilliant'').

==Example==

==Example==

Despite frequent modern reference to [[Gaius Julius Caesar|Julius Caesar]], Julius is not his first name, but rather his '''nomen''' representing his father's linage: his first name, or [[praenomen]], is Gaius while ''Caesar'' was his [[cognomen]].

Despite frequent modern reference to [[Gaius Julius Caesar|Julius Caesar]], Julius is not his first name, but rather his '''nomen''' representing his father's linage: his first name, or [[praenomen]], is Gaius while ''Caesar'' was his [[cognomen]].

Thus when [[Gaius Julius Caesar]] adopted his nephew in his will, [[Gaius Octavius Thurinus]] ("octavian" being his family name), he changed his '''nomen gentilicium''' to "Julius" and accepted the associated [[cognomen]] of "Caesar".  But [[Octavian]] logically kept his first name/[[praenomen]] of "Gaius".  It must also be noted at that time [[Octavian]] had not yet been honoured with the [[agnomen]] of "Augustus".

Thus when [[Gaius Julius Caesar]] adopted his nephew in his will: [[Gaius Octavius Thurinus]] ("octavian" being the family name), Octavius changed his '''nomen gentilicium''' to "Julius" and accepted the associated [[cognomen]] of "Caesar".  But [[Octavian]] logically kept his first name/[[praenomen]] of "Gaius".  It must also be noted at that time [[Octavian]] had not yet been honoured with the [[agnomen]] of "Augustus".

==Etymology==

==Etymology==