Proculus (praenomen)
Encyclopedia
Proculus is a Latin praenomen
, or personal name
, which was most common during the early centuries of the Roman Republic
. It gave rise to the patronymic gentes Proculeia and Procilia, and later became a common cognomen
, or surname
. The feminine form is Procula. The name was not regularly abbreviated.
Proculus was an uncommon name, but was occasionally used by both patrician and plebeian families. Those known to have used it included the Betutii
, Geganii, Julii, Sertorii
, and Verginii
; and naturally Proculus must once have been used by the ancestors of the gentes Proculeia and Procilia. Other families which later used the name as a cognomen may originally have used it as a praenomen. The scholar Marcus Terentius Varro
described Proculus as an archaic praenomen, which was no longer in general use by the 1st century BC. As a cognomen, however, Proculus was still common, and it became even more so during imperial times.
, and points out that the praenomen appears to be a diminutive of another word, such as procus. The usual translation of this word is a suitor, but Festus also mentions that procus was an archaic form of procer, "a prince."
Another possibility is that Proculus is a diminutive of Proca, the name of one of the kings of Alba Longa
. In that case, Proca would also be an ancient praenomen. Of course, it is entirely possible that Proca is derived from the same root as procus and procer.
Praenomen
The praenomen was a personal name chosen by the parents of a Roman child. It was first bestowed on the dies lustricus , the eighth day after the birth of a girl, or the ninth day after the birth of a boy...
, or personal name
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
, which was most common during the early centuries of the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
. It gave rise to the patronymic gentes Proculeia and Procilia, and later became a common cognomen
Cognomen
The cognomen nōmen "name") was the third name of a citizen of Ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. The cognomen started as a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became hereditary. Hereditary cognomina were used to augment the second name in order to identify a particular branch within...
, or surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
. The feminine form is Procula. The name was not regularly abbreviated.
Proculus was an uncommon name, but was occasionally used by both patrician and plebeian families. Those known to have used it included the Betutii
Betucia (gens)
The gens Betucia was a Roman family during the late Republic. It is best known as a result of the orator, Titus Betucius Barrus, a native of Asculum in Picenum. Cicero described him as the most eloquent of all orators outside of Rome. He also delivered a famous speech at Rome against Quintus...
, Geganii, Julii, Sertorii
Sertoria (gens)
The gens Sertoria was a Roman family, probably of Sabine origin. It was relatively undistinguished, except for the Roman general Quintus Sertorius , who fought alongside Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Cinna, and later established an independent state in Hispania during the dictatorship of...
, and Verginii
Verginia (gens)
The gens Verginia or Virginia was a prominent family at Rome, which from an early period was divided into patrician and plebeian branches. The gens was of great antiquity, and frequently filled the highest honors of the state during the early years of the Republic...
; and naturally Proculus must once have been used by the ancestors of the gentes Proculeia and Procilia. Other families which later used the name as a cognomen may originally have used it as a praenomen. The scholar Marcus Terentius Varro
Marcus Terentius Varro
Marcus Terentius Varro was an ancient Roman scholar and writer. He is sometimes called Varro Reatinus to distinguish him from his younger contemporary Varro Atacinus.-Biography:...
described Proculus as an archaic praenomen, which was no longer in general use by the 1st century BC. As a cognomen, however, Proculus was still common, and it became even more so during imperial times.
Origin and Meaning of the Name
According to Festus, the name Proculus was originally given to children who were born while their fathers were away. Chase believes that this is a false etymologyFalse etymology
Folk etymology is change in a word or phrase over time resulting from the replacement of an unfamiliar form by a more familiar one. Unanalyzable borrowings from foreign languages, like asparagus, or old compounds such as samblind which have lost their iconic motivation are...
, and points out that the praenomen appears to be a diminutive of another word, such as procus. The usual translation of this word is a suitor, but Festus also mentions that procus was an archaic form of procer, "a prince."
Another possibility is that Proculus is a diminutive of Proca, the name of one of the kings of Alba Longa
Alba Longa
Alba Longa – in Italian sources occasionally written Albalonga – was an ancient city of Latium in central Italy southeast of Rome in the Alban Hills. Founder and head of the Latin League, it was destroyed by Rome around the middle of the 7th century BC. In legend, Romulus and Remus, founders of...
. In that case, Proca would also be an ancient praenomen. Of course, it is entirely possible that Proca is derived from the same root as procus and procer.