Laterani

Laterani is a term used in Latin and in modern languages to denote things related to the Lateran, a historic district in the heart of Rome that centers on the Archbasilica of Saint John in Lateran and the Lateran Palace. In classical and late antique sources the term can function as an adjectival designation meaning "of the Lateran" and as a plural ethnonym for people associated with that area.

In historical contexts, the Lateran area was an important religious and administrative center. The Archbasilica of Saint John in Lateran long served as the pope's principal church, and the adjacent Lateran Palace was the papal residence for centuries. The word Laterani appears in inscriptions and literary references to inhabitants, property, or institutions connected with the site, although exact genealogical details are fragmentary.

In modern usage, Laterani survives as a surname in Italian contexts. It may be encountered in biographical or genealogical material and can function as a toponymic surname derived from the historic district.

See also: Lateran; San Giovanni in Laterano; Vatican Palaces.