However, as Rome expanded its frontiers and non-Roman peoples were progressively granted citizenship and concomitant nomen, the latter lost its value in indicating patrilineal ancestry.
The nomen gentilicium, or "gentile name" designated a Roman citizen as a member of a gens.
[2] The nomen was an essential element of Roman nomenclature throughout Roman history, but its usefulness as a distinguishing element declined precipitously following the Constitutio Antoniniana, which effectively granted the nomen "Aurelius" to vast numbers of newly-enfranchised citizens.
Countless other "new Romans" acquired the nomina of important families in this manner during imperial times.
In the 4th century, Aurelius was surpassed in number by Flavius, and other names became quite common, including Valerius, Claudius, Fabius, Julius and Junius.