Julius
/ˈdʒuːliəs/noun
A Roman family name and masculine given name.
Did you know?The Julian family claimed descent from Iulus, the legendary son of Aeneas, which linked the name to Rome’s sacred Trojan origin story.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Rome
Latin
Iulius
“A Roman clan name (nomen gentilicium), especially the Julian family”
Classical Tradition
Latin
Iulus
“The legendary name of Aeneas’s son, later used to explain the Julian family’s ancestry”
Ancient Roman Myth
Latin
Iovis
“Jove/Jupiter, the chief Roman god; the Julian line was sometimes associated with divine descent through myth”
Middle Ages
Latin
Iulius
“Used in Latin texts as a personal name and family name”
Modern English
English
Julius
“A masculine given name and historical Roman name”