Justinian
/dʒʌsˈtɪniən/
noun
Origin
Latin
Iustinus — just, upright
Overview
Meaning Now
- The name of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I (527–565 AD).
- A masculine given name of Latin origin.
Literal older meaning
derived from the Latin family name Iustinus, meaning 'just' or 'upright'
Language path
Latin → English
Earliest form
Iustinianus
Earliest period
6th century AD
Journey
Justinian I was the emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 527 to 565 AD, famous for the Corpus Juris Civilis (Justinian's Code) and the construction of the Hagia Sophia.
Evolution
- Latin (1st-6th century)
Iustinianus
“pertaining to Justin (Iustinus)”
Derived from the Roman family name Iustinus, meaning 'just' or 'upright'.
- Middle English (12th-15th century)
Justinian
“the Byzantine emperor”
Borrowed from Latin via historical texts.
- Modern English (16th century-present)
Justinian
“the emperor, or used as a given name”
Maintained spelling and historical reference.
Connections
Word parts
Justin
root
from Latin Iustinus, meaning 'just'
-ian
suffix
belonging to or resembling
Related across languages
Latin
Iustinianus
the Roman family name
French
Justinien
the Byzantine emperor
Explore next
Related to Justinian
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.