Quintillus is a Roman cognomen derived from the given name Quintus, which means "fifth" in Latin. The name Quintillus, as a diminutive or form meaning "little fifth," followed the common Latin practice of forming family or branch names from first names.
Notable Bearers
The most prominent bearer of this name was Marcus Aurelius Claudius Quintillus, a short-lived Roman emperor who reigned for a few weeks in 270 AD. After the death of his brother, Emperor Claudius Gothicus, Quintillus took power but was swiftly overthrown by Aurelian, whom the legions had proclaimed rival emperor. Ancient sources variously report that Quintillus killed himself, died in battle, or was murdered by his soldiers. He was likely born in Pannonia Inferior and possibly served as Procurator of Sardinia under his brother's reign before his brief imperial stint.
Significance
As a cognomen, Quintillus would have designated a branch of a Roman family, and its lesser celébrité may have been due to the tragedy of its most famous bearer's brief reign. Nevertheless, the name reflects typical Roman naming practices and the symbolic importance of numbers in early Roman given names.
- Meaning: Derived from Quintus, meaning "fifth"
- Origin: Latin via Roman
- Type: Cognomen (family name or epithet)
- Primary Usage: Roman
Sources: Wikipedia — Quintillus