But it is a model for conlang and conculture family relations
and names.
I suspect it was often patrilineal, but what if your mothers
family was of a higher social class, like Eqestrien or
Senatorial rank? But fathers family was Pleben or ..
Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andreas Johansson" <andjo@...>
To: <CONLANG@...>
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2006 1:13 AM
Subject: Re: OT Roman names (was: names in conlangs)
> Quoting R A Brown <ray@...>:
>
> > 'Caesar', the cognomen, was indeed his immediate family
name. These,
> > like our surnames, often began as nicknames to distinguish
one familia
> > within a clan from another. It does not seem that everyone
bothered with
> > a cognomen; AFAIK the cognomen, if there was one, of the
young Gaius
> > Octavius is unrecorded. Also, although they were inherited,
it seems
> > they could also be changed - i.e. the were less permanent
than our surnames.
>
> I don't know if there's statistics or ancient statements to
back it up, but it's
> often said that cognomina were chiefly used by the upper
echelons of society.
>
> Another high-profile Roman without one is Gaius Marius.
>
> Andreas