Cornelius

Cornelius comes from an ancient Roman family name, generally connected with the Latin word cornu, meaning horn. The derivation is usually presented as probable rather than certain. The Cornelii were an important Roman family, giving the name a history that predates its later Christian associations.

In the New Testament, Cornelius is the centurion whose encounter with Peter appears in Acts. A different Cornelius became a third-century pope. American industrialist Cornelius Vanderbilt provides another well-known historical bearer, while Neely appears as a familiar form in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. These connections give Cornelius several distinct routes for a family: Roman history, biblical tradition, an older family name, or a literary association.