An elementary query on names

[falmouth]

Is it right that, by the first century BC, brothers would typically
share the same cognomen, the cognomen of their father? If this is
right, to what extent is this usual or invariable?

[au...@gellius.demon.co.uk]

It's quite usual, e.g. M. Q. Tullii Cicerones, App. P. Claudii Pulchri, and had been in the second (P. L. Cornelii Scipiones, Ti. C. Sempronii Gracchi). But less so in the Empire, when the cognomen tok over the distinguishing function from the praenomen: L. Annaeus Seneca the rhetor had three sons, L. Annaeus Novatus (later L. Iunius Gallio Annaeanus, who cared for none of the things alleged against St Paul), L. Annaeus Seneca the philosopher. and Annaeus Mela, whose praenomen we do not know was he L. like his father or M. like his son the poet M. Annaeus Lucanus?

Leofranc Holford-Strevens

[falmouth]

Thanks very much.

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