Changes

The '''Cognomen''', (Latin) was generally the third name a Roman citizen might have in what could be up to a four name naming convention.<ref>Online Latin Dictionary, ''Cognomen''<br>https://www.online-latin-dictionary.com/latin-english-dictionary.php?parola=cognomen</ref>  While not a family name, the ''cognomen'' was regularly passed from father to son as a name that said something about the family in a similar way to how the [[agnomen]] said somthing about the individual.

The '''Cognomen''', (Latin) was generally the third name a Roman citizen might have in what could be up to a four name naming convention.<ref>Online Latin Dictionary, ''Cognomen''<br>https://www.online-latin-dictionary.com/latin-english-dictionary.php?parola=cognomen</ref>  While not a family name, the ''cognomen'' was regularly passed from father to son as a name that said something about the family in a similar way to how the [[agnomen]] said somthing about the individual.  Classic choices were towns or trades, cultural backgrounds, physical traits etc.

==Example==

==Examples==

An example might be of a family having Gaulish ancestory and still identified as such, so they might add ''galli'' or a derivative thereof onto the family name; for such was the example of [[Octavian]] prior to his adoption by [[Julius Caesar]] wherein he used the ''cognomen'' of ''Thurinus'' indicating the township of [[Turi]] in [[Apulia]] located in southern [[Italy]].

* If someone had Gaulish ancestory and still identified as such, so they might add ''galli'' or a derivative thereof onto the family name.

* [[Octavian]] later [[Augustus Caesar]] prior to his adoption by [[Julius Caesar]] usded the ''cognomen'' of ''Thurinus'' indicating a family connection the township of [[Turi]] in [[Apulia]] located in southern [[Italy]].

 

 

 

Likewise the family might add something to indicate having red hair or the likes.  Similarly, the name of a god the family acknowledged could be used.  Again an industry might be added such as the common English ''cognomens'' now used as last names of ''Smith'' or ''Thatcher''.  But ultimately the ''cognomen'' could be anything the family wished that helped describe themselves.

But ultimately the ''cognomen'' could be anything the family wished that helped describe themselves.  But because trades and townships or even family traits passed through generations the cognomen was generally passed from father to son.

Of such the best commonly known example would be that of [[Gaius Julius Caesar]] manifesting the [[praenomen]], [[Nomen gentilicium|nomen], ''cognomen'', but never an officially attached an [[agnomen]].  Whereas to the family / [[gens]] [[Nomen gentilicium|nomen]] became attached the variant spelling of [[caesa]] denoting a ''cut'' (of a sword, knife or spear)<ref>Online Latin Dictionary, ''Caesa''<br>https://www.online-latin-dictionary.com/latin-english-dictionary.php?lemma=CAESA100</ref> making it a fitting ''cognomen'' that continued its use accross the successors of the Emperorship while not implying any genetic heritage but maintaining a consistent convention, a heritage and lineage nonetheless.

Of such the best commonly known example would be that of [[Gaius Julius Caesar]] manifesting the:

* [[praenomen]] of Gaius being his 'first name'

* [[Nomen gentilicium|nomen]] of Julius bing his 'family name'

* ''cognomen'' of Caesar indicating a denoting a ''cut'' (of a sword, knife or spear)<ref>Online Latin Dictionary, ''Caesa''<br>https://www.online-latin-dictionary.com/latin-english-dictionary.php?lemma=CAESA100</ref> making it a fitting ''cognomen'' that continued its use accross the successors of the Emperorship while not implying any genetic heritage but maintaining a consistent convention, a heritage and lineage nonetheless.

 

As such the '''cognomen''' is best thought of as '''extra information that the family wanted to declare about themselves'''.

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

==References==

==References==