Female names documented in inscriptions. An example of Celeia

Abstract

Roman onomastics is regarded as an “auxiliary discipline” of epigraphy, which provides insight into the functioning of society during that period. Different types of names, the number of their component parts, and the origin of (the parts of) names can reveal much more about Roman provincial society than it might appear at first sight. The process is facilitated by organizing names into groups, as was also done for Celeia years ago, yet without paying particular attention to female names. The aim of the article at hand is to fill this gap. The basic naming conventions for women, organizing female names into groups, and finally comparing the distribution of name types—first within the town and the ager, respectively, and then between the two—will present us with further possibilities that onomastic studies have to offer.