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Cognomen

Black's Law Dictionary · Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

Black's Law Dictionary

In Roman law. A man's family name. The first name (prænomen) was the proper name of the individual; the secend (nomen) indicated the gens or tribe to which he belonged; while the third (cognomen) denoted his family or house.

In English law

A surname. A name added to the nomen proper, or name of the individual; a name descriptive of the family.