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Help[Facts] Lupus
Hi !!!
Why is Lupus listed as Late Roman?
Isn't it Ancient Roman?
Then the meaning is "Latin form of Loup".
It is backwards.
Loup should be "French form of Lupus" while Lupus something like "Means wolf in Latin".
Personal Name Lists https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/125456
Why is Lupus listed as Late Roman?
Isn't it Ancient Roman?
Then the meaning is "Latin form of Loup".
It is backwards.
Loup should be "French form of Lupus" while Lupus something like "Means wolf in Latin".
Personal Name Lists https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/125456
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Replies
This site is about names, not just general language use. Ancient Roman names were limited to a very few popular choices. The majority of "Roman" names are from the Late Roman period. "Lupus" may mean 'wolf' in classical Latin, but was not recorded as a name until the Late Roman period, probably due to barbarian influences.
This message was edited 4/21/2021, 9:23 AM
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What do you classify as a name in this instance? Only the praenomina, or also the nomina gentilia, cognomina and agnomina?
If only the praenomina, then yes, the pool of available names was extremely limited. The "Ancient Roman" category of Behind the Name is not limited to only the praenomina, though. It includes the nomina gentilia, cognomina and agnomina:
https://www.behindthename.com/names/usage/ancient-roman (in English)
Also, most historians place the beginning of the Late Roman period in the 3rd century AD. I take it that you do as well.
Now, with all of the above in mind: if you ask me, I would say that Lupus was in fact used as a name (albeit a cognomen) before the Late Roman period and therefore belongs in the "Ancient Roman" category of Behind the Name. Examples of bearers from before the start of the Late Roman period (3rd century AD) include:
• Cornelius Lupus, Roman senator and suffect consul in 42 AD: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornelius_Lupus (in English)
• Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Lupus, Roman consul in 156 BC: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Cornelius_Lentulus_Lupus_(consul_156_BC) (in English)
• Publius Rutilius Lupus, Roman consul in 90 BC: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Publius_Rutilius_Lupus_(consul) (in English)
• Tiberius Julius Lupus, Roman governor of Egypt from 71 to 73 AD: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius_Julius_Lupus (in English)
Also see the attestations by century at http://www.trismegistos.org/name/10222 (in English), which show usage in the centuries BC.
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You're right, Lupus was a cognomen in classical times. I'll change that.
Cognomina had some aspects of surnames and some aspects of given names. Sometimes they were inherited, but not always. Often siblings had different cognomina. Sometimes Romans had multiple cognomina, some inherited and some not. Like a "modern given name", it could be used to distinguish people, even father from son and sibling from sibling, when the praenomina and nomina were no longer able to fulfill that function. Especially after the Republic and into imperial times.
At some point it would be good to add the nomina to the surname site...
Cognomina had some aspects of surnames and some aspects of given names. Sometimes they were inherited, but not always. Often siblings had different cognomina. Sometimes Romans had multiple cognomina, some inherited and some not. Like a "modern given name", it could be used to distinguish people, even father from son and sibling from sibling, when the praenomina and nomina were no longer able to fulfill that function. Especially after the Republic and into imperial times.
At some point it would be good to add the nomina to the surname site...
1