What is "paullus"

Paullus is an ancient Roman cognomen, also appearing as an apparent praenomen of several Romans.

• Marcus Aemilius L.f. Paullus, consul 302 BC
• Marcus Aemilius M.f. Paullus, consul 255 BC
• Lucius Aemilius Paullus (consul 219 BC), killed at Battle of Cannae
• Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus, consul and victor in Battle of Pydna
• Lucius Aemilius Lepidus Paullus, consul 50 BC
• Lucius Aemilius Lepidus Paullus (consul 34 BC), suffect consul 34 BC
• Paullus Fabius Maximus, consul 11 BC
• Lucius Aemilius Paullus (consul 1), consul 1 AD
• Paullus Fabius Persicus, consul 34 AD
• Sergius Paulus, consul 168

Paullus ( or ) is a Latin praenomen, or personal name, used throughout Roman history. The masculine form was not particularly common at Rome, but the feminine form, Paulla or Polla, is one of the most common praenomina. The name was later used as a cognomen in many families. It was not normally abbreviated, but is sometimes found with the abbreviation Paul.

The masculine praenomen Paullus was not widely used at Rome, but was used by gentes Aemilia and Fabia, which also used it as a cognomen. Both gentes had a long history of using rare and archaic praenomina. The name was probably more widespread amongst the plebeians and in the countryside. Many other families which used Paullus as a cognomen may originally have used it as a praenomen. The feminine form, Paulla or Polla, was one of the most common praenomina in both patrician and plebeian gentes, including the Aemilii, Caecilii, Cornelii, Flaminii, Fulvii, Licinii, Minucii, Sergii, Servilii, Sulpicii, and Valerii. The name has survived into modern times.