Definition: Cognomen, also known as a family name, is a prefix that comes from Latin and means "of" or "from." It is used to refer to a person's first name. For example, in the case of a family called Genghis Khan, Genghis would be the cognomen for their son, who is named after him. Cognomens are individuals whose names have been given by their family members, often with the intention of recognizing them as part of a family