Lentuli

Lentuli is a surname of ancient Roman origin. It belonged to a prominent patrician family, the Cornelia gens, one of the most distinguished and powerful families in the Roman Republic. The Lentuli were known for their involvement in Roman politics and military affairs, holding numerous consulships and other high offices throughout the Republic's history.

The name Lentulus is believed to be a diminutive form of the cognomen Lentus, meaning slow or sluggish. This might have been a nickname that became hereditary. Members of the Lentuli family played significant roles in various historical events. For instance, Publius Cornelius Lentulus Sura was a consul and a prominent figure in the Catiline Conspiracy of 63 BCE. Another notable figure was Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Crus, who also served as consul and was involved in the political turmoil of the late Republic.

The family's influence waned with the decline of the Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. While the Cornelia gens continued to exist, the specific branch of the Lentuli does not feature as prominently in imperial history as it did in the Republican era. Nevertheless, the name Lentulus remains a testament to the enduring legacy of one of Rome's most influential aristocratic families. The surname has appeared in various forms throughout history and in different European countries, though its direct lineage to the ancient Roman family is often difficult to trace definitively.