Agustin

Agustín is the Spanish form of Augustine; a name which developed from an Old Roman cognomen (family name) Augustus, from the Latin adjective “augustus” meaning “great, magnificent, venerable”. This adjective in turn comes from the Latin verb “augere” meaning “to increase”. Most notably, the title Augustus (“majestic”) was given to Octavian (the adopted-son of Julius Caesar) who was the first Emperor of the Roman Empire in the Second Triumvirate (following the Roman Republic). Emperor Augustus emerged as the victor after more than a century of turmoil; he defeated Antony and Cleopatra and ruled alone from 27 BC to 14 AD laying the foundation for the Roman Empire’s golden age. From that point on, all subsequent Emperors of Rome fancied themselves “Augustus” and were bestowed with this imperial title (as appointed by the gods). August is also the eighth month of the calendar year, originally called Sextillus (so named in the 8th century BC when the Roman calendar was only ten months and Sextillus, sex meaning six, was the sixth month). Just as the Roman Senate had named a month (July) after Julius Caesar, they also decided to name a month after his grandnephew and adopted-son Augustus. The Senate chose this particular month to honor Augustus because it had been “so fortunate to this empire” (it was the month under Augustus when Egypt came under the empire’s control and the month when civil wars ended). The month was lengthened from 30 days to 31 days so no claim could be made that Augustus got shortchanged with an inferior month. The name survived after the collapse of the Roman Empire in large part thanks to Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430), one of the four preeminent Fathers of the Church (i.e., influential theologians). It was in his honor that this name perpetuated in popularity among medieval Christians. Augustus, Augusto, Augusta, Augustine, Agustín and August are all forms of this “magnificent” name.