In ancient Rome, family names, known as nomen, were an essential part of a person's identity. Each Roman citizen typically had three names: the praenomen (given name), the nomen (family name), and the cognomen (nickname or branch of the family). For example, in the name Gaius Julius Caesar, "Gaius" is the praenomen, "Julius" is the nomen, and "Caesar" is the cognomen. Roman family names often indicated social status and lineage. The nomen could reveal a person's clan or tribe, while the cognomen sometimes reflected personal traits or achievements. Over time, some families became prominent, leading to the use of agnomen, an additional name to honor accomplishments or distinguish branches within a family.