Surname Decius - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'D'
Decius: What does the surname Decius mean?
The last name Decius is derived from the Latin word ‘decus’ which means honour or glory. It is a common name among the Roman nobility and may have been adopted by peoples outside of Italy as part of their cultural identity.
In Roman history, there are a number of men with the last name Decius. They rose to prominence during the late Roman Republic and early empire. The most famous of the Decii were Publius Decius Mus, who was the founder of the Decian priesthood, and Quintus Caecilius Metellus Decianus, who was a Roman military commander and politician.
Decius was an aristocratic name, and as such it was connected to the concept of nobility and respectability. This is reflected in the careers of the Decii who would often have military or political positions, requiring them to show great leadership skills.
The Decii were also known to be a fiercely patriotic family. This is reflected in their last name and the pride they took in their heritage. Publius Decius Mus was even famous for sacrificing his own life in battle in order to save the Roman Republic.
Today, the name Decius is a symbol of strength, honor, and loyalty. It is still used in some families as a surname, indicating a link to the Roman aristocracy. The name also continues to be associated with great patriotism, reminding us of the selflessness of the original Decii.
Order DNA origin analysisDecius: Where does the name Decius come from?
The last name Decius is most common in Germany today, with the highest concentrations of the name appearing in the northern regions of the country. According to Ancestry data, 5,000 people in Germany are currently carrying the name.
The surname Decius is believed to come from the Latin word decus, which means honor, excellence, or glory. Variations of the name such as Dekius, Deke, and Decke can also be found in some parts of Europe.
The surname can be traced back to the early Middle Ages when it became common across the Germanic world and, presumably, followed its commoners all the way back to their homelands. The earliest recorded mention of the name is from the eighth century in Thuringia, where a child named Waltherius filius Deci (Walther, son of Deci) was recorded as living.
It is likely that members of the Decius family migrated in the years to follow, with some settling in various German states and others moving on to other parts of the continent. The name eventually became Germany's most common Decius-based surname.
Today, the Decius family remains well-embedded in German culture, with numerous Deciuses living throughout the country and, more specifically, in the North. Despite the name's popularity in Germany, it is also widely found in other parts of Europe, most notably in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, and The Netherlands.
Variations of the surname Decius
The surname Decius is derived from the Latin term “Decius”, meaning “from the tenth” or “descendant of the tenth”. This name indicates descent from a family that was regarded as among the most famous aristocrats of the Roman Republic.
The variants and spellings for Decius include Dekker, Deccio, Dekkar, Desios, Dekeyser, Deeker, Dekke, Deckey, Deeks, Deike, Dekser, Dekes, Deckers, Deeken, Degent, Deikker, Dejker, and Dejkers, depending on the country and dialect of origin.
Decius is also a very common surname in Germany, where it is spelled as Deutz. It is also found in Austria with the spelling Deutzen and in Poland with spelling Dec.
The Decius surname is also seen in other European countries as Detz, Detzsch, Detzer, Detzes, and Detzner in Germany, Devis in Italy, and Decoux in France.
In the United States, some of the spellings found are Decius, Deckers, Deaks, Deck, Decks, Deces, Decz, Dekos, Deeks, Deecks, Dease, Deich, Deekes, Deakines, and Desi. It may be found hidden within many spellings and surname branches directly derived from the original DNA.
The Decius surname is found worldwide and often towering names, such as the line of Roman emperors of the same origin and their descendants throughout European noble houses are associated.
Famous people with the name Decius
- Marcus Decius Carminius: Roman general who served as consul in 394 BC and successfully defeated the invasion of the Gauls.
- Gaius Decimus Junius Brutus: One of the most famous Roman politicians and military commanders. He was one of the most important figures in the downfall of the Roman Republic and the rise of Julius Caesar.
- Decius Junius Brutus Albinus: Roman military commander and politician who was a consul in AD 122.
- Caecilius Metellus Decianus: Roman politician and military commander who served as consul in 83 BC.
- Lucius Decius: Roman senator who served as praetor in 67 BC.
- Publius Decius Mus: Roman military commander and politician who was consul in 340 BC. He remains famous for his self-sacrifice in battle against the Samnites.
- Paullus Aemilius Decius: Roman military commander and politician who served as consul in 95 BC.
- Gaius Decius Mus: One of the earliest Roman magistrates. He is remembered for introducing the pontifex maximus, the highest religious office in the Roman Republic.
- Gaius Decius Valerius: Roman politician and military commander who served as consul in 225 BC.
- Quintus Caecilius Metellus Decianus: Roman politician and military commander who served as consul in 177 BC.