Antoninus / Antonino / Antonin

Antoninus is a Roman cognomen, a hereditary surname, derived from the Roman gens (clan) name Antonius. The Antonius gens was a prominent plebeian family in ancient Rome, with several famous members, including Mark Antony. The suffix '-inus' in Latin often indicates 'belonging to' or 'descended from', so Antoninus essentially means 'of Antonius'.

The name gained significant historical prominence through several Roman emperors, most notably Antoninus Pius, who ruled in the 2nd century AD during a period often considered the height of the Roman Empire. His reign was marked by peace and prosperity, which contributed to the positive association of the name. The name continued to be used in various forms throughout the Roman and Byzantine Empires and later saw some revival in scholarly and ecclesiastical contexts.