Fabian

Fabian comes from the later Latin male personal name Fabianus from the old Roman family name Fabius. This name is ultimately derived from the Latin “faba” meaning ‘bean’. Fabius dates back to the Roman Republic and centuries before Christ. This Latin “nomen” most likely originated from a nickname (from the word bean) to indicate a family of bean farmers. The name was borne by an early 3rd century pope, elected under unusual circumstances. Fabian was an unimportant layperson who arrived in Rome during the papal elections of 236 AD. During the assembly a dove suddenly descended from the ceilings and settled upon Fabian’s head. The crowd immediately recognized this as a direct sign from the Holy Spirit and at once elected this stranger to the most holy of Church positions. As a symbol of peace, the dove was considered an omen, since Fabian’s tenure as pope was marked by a period of peace and improved religious tolerance within the Roman Empire (still a pagan state). Once Emperor Decius came into power, however, Christians were once again under attack for their beliefs and Fabian would be martyred in 250 AD. The name was brought to England by the French around the 16th century, although it’s never been a considerably popular name among English speakers. Fabian currently ranks high in the countries of Austria and Poland. It is also a Top 40 name in Chile.