Marcus (praenomen)
Marcus (Latin pronunciation:
At all periods of Roman history, Marcus was the third-most popular praenomen, trailing only Lucius and Gaius. Although many prominent families did not use it, it was a favorite of countless others. The name survived the Roman Empire and has continued to be used, in various forms, into modern times.[1][2]
Origin and meaning of the name
The praenomen Marcus is generally conceded to be derived from the name of the god Mars. It has been proposed that it was originally given to children who were born in the month of Martius (March), which was itself named in honor of the god Mars.[2][4][5]
The feminine form of Marcus should be Marca. However, surviving examples indicate that Marcia, with an "i", was more common. The same was true of the praenomen Tita or Titia.[3]
The Etruscan form of this praenomen is Marce.[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b Dictionary of Greek & Roman Biography & Mythology
- ^ a b c Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft
- ^ a b Mika Kajava, Roman Female Praenomina: Studies in the Nomenclature of Roman Women (1994)
- ^ George Davis Chase, "The Origin of Roman Praenomina", in Harvard Studies in Classical Philology, vol. VIII (1897)
- ^ Oxford Classical Dictionary, 3rd Ed. (1996)
- ^ Jacques Heurgon, Daily Life of the Etruscans (1964)