Roman Last Name Generator
Authentic Roman gens names and cognomina
Generate real Roman last names: clan names (nomina) like Cornelius, Valerius, and Sempronius, and family cognomina like Scipio, Maximus, Rufus, and Ahenobarbus, drawn from Republican and Imperial records.
About Roman last names
Romans did not have last names in the modern sense; they had two hereditary names that together did the job. The nomen gentilicium was the clan name, always ending in -ius for men and -ia for women: Cornelius, Fabius, Claudius, Valerius, Sempronius. There were only a few hundred gentes in the Republic and a couple dozen dominated politics, so a nomen immediately told a Roman which powerful house you came from. The cognomen was the branch name, and it usually began as a nickname describing an ancestor: Rufus (redhead), Scaevola (lefty), Cicero (chickpea), Ahenobarbus (bronze-beard), Brutus (dullard), Caecus (blind), Crassus (fat). Over generations the joke wore off and the name became inherited, so a family like the Cornelii Scipiones carried both parts.
A third layer, the agnomen, was earned rather than inherited: Africanus for defeating Carthage, Numidicus for Numidia, Germanicus for the Rhine wars. Emperors piled these on as victory titles. After Rome's citizenship spread, imperial nomina like Julius, Claudius, Flavius, Ulpius, Aelius, and Aurelius became so common they lost their family meaning, and by the fifth century Flavius functioned almost like a rank.
The list mixes gens names, cognomina, and agnomina, from patrician place names (Regillensis) and animal nicknames (Lupus) to good-wish names (Fortunatus) and late Roman names, for a full Roman name or one strong surname.
How to choose Roman last names
- Combine one nomen and one cognomen for a realistic surname pair: Cornelius Scipio, Valerius Corvus, Domitius Ahenobarbus, Caecilius Metellus.
- For a patrician family use the old gentes: Cornelius, Fabius, Claudius, Aemilius, Valerius, Manlius, Sulpicius. For rich plebeians use Licinius, Sempronius, Domitius, Caecilius, or Pompeius.
- Cognomina describing looks or quirks (Rufus, Naso, Balbus, Cocles) feel more authentic than grand ones, since that is where most of them started.
- Agnomina like Africanus, Germanicus, and Dacicus mark a victory and belong only to generals or emperors; give one to a character only if they earned it.
- For a modern character with Roman roots, single cognomina such as Severus, Felix, Maximus, Marcellus, or Sabinus work well as surnames and are still in use in Italian and other Romance languages.
Frequently asked questions
Did ancient Romans have last names?
Yes, two of them. The nomen (clan name, like Cornelius) was passed to every child, and the cognomen (branch name, like Scipio) distinguished families within the clan. Together they worked like a modern surname, and Roman men were normally referred to by them rather than by their first name.
What are the most famous Roman last names?
Julius and Caesar, Cornelius Scipio, Claudius, Fabius Maximus, Aemilius Paullus, Valerius, Sempronius Gracchus, Tullius Cicero, Licinius Crassus, and Antonius are among the best known from the Republic; Flavius, Ulpius, Aelius, and Aurelius dominate the Empire.
What did Roman cognomina mean?
Most began as descriptive nicknames: Rufus (red-haired), Longus (tall), Crassus (fat), Cicero (chickpea), Scaevola (left-handed), Caecus (blind), Brutus (dull), Naso (big nose), Ahenobarbus (bronze beard). Others recorded a deed or place, like Africanus, Torquatus (who took a torc from a Gaul), or Corvus (helped by a raven in battle).
Can I use Roman surnames for a modern character or brand?
Yes. Names like Severus, Maximus, Felix, Marcellus, and Sabinus have survived into modern use, and nobody owns an ancient name as such. We have not checked any name against trademarks, so do that before using one for a brand. Very famous ones (Caesar, Cicero) will read as references, so choose accordingly.
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All 1,000 Roman last names
A: 96 names
- Aburius
- Accius
- Accoleius
- Acerronius
- Achaicus
- Acilius
- Aculeo
- Acutius
- Adiabenicus
- Aebutius
- Aelianus
- Aelius
- Aemilianus
- Aemilius
- Aetius
- Afer
- Afranius
- Africanus
- Agelastus
- Agricola
- Agrippa
- Agrippinus
- Ahenobarbus
- Alamannicus
- Albinius
- Albinovanus
- Albinus
- Albius
- Albucius
- Albus
- Alfenus
- Alfidius
- Alfius
- Allectus
- Allienus
- Allobrogicus
- Amandus
- Ambrosius
- Ambustus
- Ammianus
- Ampius
- Ancharius
- Anicius
- Annaeus
- Anneius
- Annius
- Antias
- Antistius
A, continued
- Antius
- Antoninus
- Antonius
- Aper
- Apollinaris
- Appuleius
- Apronius
- Apustius
- Aquila
- Aquilinus
- Aquilius
- Arabicus
- Arcadius
- Armeniacus
- Arpineius
- Arrius
- Arruntius
- Articuleius
- Arvina
- Asconius
- Asellio
- Asellius
- Asiaticus
- Asina
- Asinius
- Asper
- Ateius
- Atellus
- Atilius
- Atinius
- Atratinus
- Atrius
- Atticus
- Attius
- Aufidius
- Augurinus
- Augustinus
- Aurelianus
- Aurelius
- Aurunculeius
- Auruncus
- Ausonius
- Autronius
- Aventinensis
- Avidius
- Avienus
- Avitus
- Axius
B: 33 names
- Baebius
- Balbillus
- Balbinus
- Balbus
- Balearicus
- Balventius
- Bambalio
- Barba
- Barbatius
- Barbatus
- Bassianus
- Bassus
- Belisarius
- Bellienus
- Bestia
- Betilienus
- Betucius
- Bibulus
- Blaesus
- Blasio
- Blossius
- Boethius
- Britannicus
- Brocchus
- Bruttius
- Brutus
- Bubulcus
- Buca
- Bucculeius
- Bulbus
- Burbuleius
- Burrus
- Buteo
C: 146 names
- Caecilianus
- Caecilius
- Caecina
- Caecus
- Caedicius
- Caeliomontanus
- Caelius
- Caepasius
- Caepio
- Caerellius
- Caesar
- Caesennius
- Caesetius
- Caesius
- Caesoninus
- Caesonius
- Caetronius
- Calatinus
- Calavius
- Calenus
- Calidius
- Callaicus
- Calpurnius
- Calventius
- Calvinus
- Calvisius
- Calvus
- Camerinus
- Camillus
- Camurius
- Candidus
- Canidius
- Canina
- Caninius
- Canius
- Cantilius
- Canuleius
- Canus
- Canutius
- Capella
- Capito
- Capitolinus
- Caprarius
- Carausius
- Carbo
- Carfulenus
- Carinus
- Carisius
C, continued
- Caristanius
- Carpicus
- Carpinatius
- Carrinas
- Carus
- Carvilius
- Casca
- Cassianus
- Cassienus
- Cassiodorus
- Cassius
- Castricius
- Castus
- Catienus
- Catilina
- Catius
- Cato
- Catullinus
- Catullus
- Catulus
- Catus
- Caudex
- Caudinus
- Ceionius
- Celer
- Celsinus
- Celsus
- Censorinus
- Centho
- Centumalus
- Cerco
- Cerialis
- Cerretanus
- Cestius
- Cethegus
- Cicereius
- Cicero
- Cicurinus
- Cilnius
- Cilo
- Cincinnatus
- Cincius
- Cinna
- Cispius
- Civilis
- Claudianus
- Claudius
- Clemens
- Clodius
C, continued
- Cloelius
- Cluvius
- Cocceius
- Cocles
- Coelius
- Collatinus
- Columella
- Cominius
- Commodus
- Considius
- Constans
- Constantinus
- Constantius
- Coponius
- Corbulo
- Corculum
- Coriolanus
- Cornelius
- Cornificius
- Cornutus
- Coruncanius
- Corvinus
- Corvus
- Cosconius
- Cossinius
- Cossus
- Cossutius
- Costa
- Cotta
- Cotyla
- Crassicius
- Crassipes
- Crassus
- Cremutius
- Crepereius
- Crescens
- Creticus
- Crispinus
- Crispus
- Critonius
- Crus
- Culleo
- Cunctator
- Curio
- Curius
- Cursor
- Curtius
- Curvus
- Cuspius
D: 22 names
- Dacicus
- Damasippus
- Decimius
- Decius
- Decrius
- Dellius
- Delmaticus
- Dentatus
- Denter
- Didius
- Digitius
- Dillius
- Diocletianus
- Dives
- Dolabella
- Domitianus
- Domitius
- Donatus
- Dorsuo
- Drusus
- Duilius
- Duronius
E: 12 names
- Eburnus
- Egnatius
- Egnatuleius
- Egrilius
- Ennius
- Ennodius
- Epidius
- Eppius
- Eprius
- Equitius
- Erucius
- Esquilinus
F: 56 names
- Fabatus
- Faberius
- Fabianus
- Fabius
- Fabricius
- Fabullus
- Fadius
- Falcidius
- Falcula
- Falto
- Fannius
- Faucius
- Faustinus
- Faustus
- Favonius
- Felix
- Ferox
- Festus
- Fidelis
- Fidiculanius
- Figulus
- Fimbria
- Firmus
- Flaccinator
- Flaccus
- Flamen
- Flamininus
- Flaminius
- Flamma
- Flavianus
- Flavius
- Flavoleius
- Flavonius
- Flavus
- Florentinus
- Florianus
- Florus
- Fonteius
- Fortunatus
- Francicus
- Frontinus
- Fronto
- Frugi
- Fuficius
- Fufidius
- Fufius
- Fulcinius
- Fulgentius
- Fullo
- Fulvius
- Fulvus
- Fundanius
- Furius
- Furnius
- Fuscus
- Fusus
G: 34 names
- Gabinius
- Gaetulicus
- Galba
- Galerius
- Gallicanus
- Gallienus
- Gallio
- Gallius
- Gallus
- Gargilius
- Gavius
- Geganius
- Gellius
- Gemellus
- Geminus
- Gentianus
- Genucius
- Germanicus
- Gessius
- Geta
- Glabrio
- Glaucia
- Glicia
- Gordianus
- Gothicus
- Gracchus
- Gracilis
- Graecinus
- Granius
- Gratianus
- Gratidius
- Grattius
- Gratus
- Gurges
H: 24 names
- Habitus
- Hadrianus
- Haterius
- Heius
- Helva
- Helvidius
- Helvius
- Herennius
- Herminius
- Hilarus
- Hirrius
- Hirrus
- Hirtius
- Hirtuleius
- Hispallus
- Hispanus
- Honoratus
- Honorius
- Horatius
- Hortalus
- Hortensius
- Hostilius
- Hostius
- Hypsaeus
I: 8 names
- Iccius
- Icilius
- Imperiosus
- Insteius
- Isauricus
- Italicus
- Iullus
- Iuventius
J: 10 names
- Januarius
- Javolenus
- Jovianus
- Jucundus
- Julianus
- Julius
- Junius
- Justinus
- Justus
- Juvenalis
L: 51 names
- Labeo
- Laberius
- Labienus
- Lacerta
- Lactantius
- Lactuca
- Lactucinus
- Laecanius
- Laelius
- Laenas
- Laenius
- Laetorius
- Laetus
- Laevinus
- Lafrenius
- Lamia
- Lamponius
- Lanatus
- Lanuvinus
- Larcius
- Lartius
- Lateranus
- Latinius
- Lentulus
- Lepidus
- Libo
- Licinianus
- Licinius
- Ligarius
- Ligurius
- Ligus
- Limetanus
- Livineius
- Livius
- Lollianus
- Lollius
- Longinus
- Longus
- Lucanus
- Lucceius
- Lucilius
- Lucretius
- Lucullus
- Lupercus
- Lupicinus
- Lupus
- Lurco
- Lurius
- Luscinus
- Luscius
- Lutatius
M: 79 names
- Maccius
- Macedo
- Macedonicus
- Macer
- Macerinus
- Macrinus
- Macrobius
- Macula
- Maecenas
- Maecilius
- Maelius
- Maenius
- Maevius
- Magius
- Magnentius
- Magnus
- Majorianus
- Malleolus
- Mallius
- Mamercus
- Mamertinus
- Mamilius
- Mancinus
- Manilius
- Manlius
- Marcellinus
- Marcellus
- Marcianus
- Marcius
- Marinianus
- Marinus
- Marius
- Maro
- Marsus
- Martialis
- Martinianus
- Martinus
- Maternus
- Matho
M, continued
- Matienus
- Matinius
- Matrinius
- Maxentius
- Maximianus
- Maximinus
- Maximus
- Medicus
- Medullinus
- Megellus
- Mela
- Memmius
- Menenius
- Mento
- Merenda
- Merula
- Mescinius
- Messalla
- Messallinus
- Messius
- Metellus
- Milo
- Milonius
- Minatius
- Mindius
- Minucius
- Modestus
- Modius
- Molo
- Montanus
- Mucianus
- Mucius
- Mugillanus
- Mummius
- Munatius
- Murcus
- Murena
- Mus
- Mussidius
- Mustius
N: 32 names
- Naevius
- Namatianus
- Nasennius
- Nasica
- Nasidius
- Naso
- Natalis
- Natta
- Nautius
- Nepos
- Nepotianus
- Neratius
- Nerius
- Nero
- Nerullinus
- Nerva
- Niger
- Nigidius
- Nigrinus
- Ninnius
- Nobilior
- Noctua
- Nonius
- Norbanus
- Novellus
- Novius
- Numerianus
- Numerius
- Numidicus
- Numisius
- Nummius
- Numonius
O: 25 names
- Ocella
- Octavenus
- Octavianus
- Octavius
- Odaenathus
- Ofella
- Ofilius
- Ofonius
- Ogulnius
- Ollius
- Olybrius
- Opellius
- Opimius
- Oppius
- Optatus
- Orata
- Orbius
- Orchius
- Orfidius
- Orosius
- Ostorius
- Otacilius
- Otho
- Ovidius
- Ovinius
P: 95 names
- Pacatus
- Paccius
- Pacilus
- Paconius
- Pactumeius
- Pacuvius
- Paetinus
- Paetus
- Palfurius
- Palicanus
- Palpellius
- Pansa
- Pantuleius
- Papinianus
- Papinius
- Papirius
- Papius
- Papus
- Parthicus
- Pastor
- Paterculus
- Paternus
- Patulcius
- Paulinus
- Paullus
- Pedanius
- Pedius
- Peducaeus
- Pennus
- Pera
- Percennius
- Perperna
- Persicus
- Pertinax
- Pescennius
- Petillius
- Petreius
- Petronius
- Philippus
- Philo
- Pictor
- Pilatus
- Pilius
- Pinarius
- Piso
- Pius
- Placidus
P, continued
- Plaetorius
- Plancius
- Plancus
- Platorius
- Plautianus
- Plautius
- Plautus
- Pleminius
- Plinius
- Plotius
- Poetelius
- Pollio
- Pompeianus
- Pompeius
- Pompilius
- Pomponius
- Ponticus
- Pontidius
- Pontius
- Popidius
- Popillius
- Poppaeus
- Porcina
- Porcius
- Postumius
- Postumus
- Potitus
- Praeconinus
- Praetextatus
- Primus
- Priscianus
- Priscus
- Privernas
- Probus
- Proculeius
- Proculus
- Propertius
- Prudentius
- Publicola
- Publilius
- Pudens
- Pulcher
- Pullius
- Pullus
- Pulvillus
- Pupienus
- Pupius
- Purpurio
Q: 7 names
- Quartinus
- Quietus
- Quinctilius
- Quinctius
- Quintilianus
- Quintillus
- Quirinius
R: 28 names
- Rabirius
- Racilius
- Raecius
- Rammius
- Ravilla
- Rectus
- Regillensis
- Regulus
- Remmius
- Renatus
- Restitutus
- Rex
- Ricimer
- Roscius
- Rubellius
- Rubrius
- Rufinus
- Rufius
- Rufrius
- Rufus
- Ruga
- Rullus
- Rupilius
- Ruso
- Rusticelius
- Rusticus
- Rutilius
- Rutilus
S: 94 names
- Sabidius
- Sabinianus
- Sabinus
- Sabucius
- Sacerdos
- Saenius
- Salinator
- Sallustius
- Salonius
- Salvianus
- Salvidienus
- Salvius
- Sanctus
- Sapiens
- Sarmaticus
- Satrius
- Saturninus
- Saufeius
- Saxa
- Scaeva
- Scaevola
- Scandilius
- Scantinius
- Scantius
- Scaptius
- Scapula
- Scato
- Scaurus
- Scipio
- Scribonius
- Scrofa
- Secundus
- Sedatius
- Seius
- Sejanus
- Sempronius
- Seneca
- Senecio
- Sentius
- Seppius
- Septicius
- Septimius
- Septimuleius
- Sepullius
- Serapio
- Serenus
- Sergius
S, continued
- Serranus
- Sertorius
- Servaeus
- Servilius
- Sestius
- Severinus
- Severus
- Sextilius
- Sextius
- Sicinius
- Siculus
- Sidonius
- Silanus
- Silius
- Silo
- Silus
- Silvanus
- Silvius
- Simplex
- Sisenna
- Sittius
- Sophus
- Soranus
- Sornatius
- Sosius
- Speratus
- Spinther
- Spurinna
- Spurius
- Staius
- Stallius
- Statilius
- Statius
- Statorius
- Stertinius
- Stilicho
- Stilo
- Stlaccius
- Stolo
- Strabo
- Structus
- Suedius
- Suetonius
- Sulla
- Sulpicius
- Sura
- Symmachus
T: 61 names
- Tacitus
- Tadius
- Tamphilus
- Tampius
- Tanusius
- Tappulus
- Tarius
- Tarquinius
- Tarquitius
- Tarrutenius
- Taurus
- Tedius
- Terentilius
- Terentius
- Tertullianus
- Tertullus
- Tetricus
- Tettius
- Thalna
- Theodosius
- Thermus
- Thorius
- Tibullus
- Tigellinus
- Tigidius
- Tillius
- Tineius
- Tiro
- Titianus
- Titinius
T, continued
- Titius
- Titurius
- Torquatus
- Traianus
- Tranquillus
- Trebatius
- Trebellius
- Trebius
- Trebonianus
- Trebonius
- Tremellius
- Triarius
- Tricipitinus
- Tricostus
- Trigeminus
- Trio
- Tubero
- Tucca
- Tuccius
- Tuditanus
- Tullius
- Tullus
- Turdus
- Turius
- Turpilius
- Turranius
- Turrinus
- Turullius
- Tuscus
- Tuticanus
- Tutilius
U: 9 names
- Ulpianus
- Ulpius
- Umbrenus
- Umbricius
- Ummidius
- Urbanus
- Urbicus
- Urseius
- Ursus
V: 77 names
- Valens
- Valentinianus
- Valerianus
- Valerius
- Valgius
- Varenus
- Vargunteius
- Varisidius
- Varius
- Varro
- Varronianus
- Varus
- Vatia
- Vaticanus
- Vatinius
- Vecellinus
- Vedius
- Vegetius
- Vegetus
- Velius
- Velleius
- Venantius
- Venno
- Vennonius
- Ventidius
- Venuleius
- Veranius
- Verecundus
- Vergilius
- Verginius
- Verres
- Verrius
- Verrucosus
- Verus
- Vespasianus
- Vespillo
- Vestorius
- Vestricius
V, continued
- Vetranio
- Vettius
- Vettulenus
- Veturius
- Vetus
- Vibidius
- Vibienus
- Vibius
- Vibulanus
- Vibullius
- Victor
- Victorinus
- Vigellius
- Villius
- Vindex
- Vinicius
- Vinius
- Violens
- Vipsanius
- Vipstanus
- Visellius
- Vitalianus
- Vitalis
- Vitellius
- Vitrasius
- Vitruvius
- Vitulus
- Vocula
- Volcatius
- Volscius
- Volteius
- Volturcius
- Volumnius
- Volusenus
- Volusianus
- Volusius
- Vopiscus
- Vorenus
- Vulso