Antonius is a masculine given name of Latin origin, used in Ancient Rome and still in use today, notably as the official Dutch form of the name found on birth certificates, though commonly rendered Anton or Antoon in daily life. It also serves as a root for the English name Anthony. The name is thought to be of Etruscan origin, predating the Roman civilization. Etymology and Historical Context Antonius is the nomen of the gens Antonia, an important plebeian family of ancient Rome. The most notable bearer from antiquity was the general Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony), who ruled the Roman Empire jointly with Augustus in the 1st century BC before falling to suicide alongside Cleopatra. According to legend, the gens claimed descent from Anton, a son of Hercules, but modern etymologists consider the name's origin ultimately unknown. Its usage spread throughout the Christian world largely due to Saint Anthony the Great, a 4th-century Egyptian hermit considered the founder of Christian monasticism, and Saint Anthony of Padua, a 13th-century Portuguese Franciscan. The spelling with 'h' (as in Anthony) arose in the 17th century from an erroneous association with Greek anthos, meaning "flower" (anthos). Cultural and Linguistic Variants Antonius has spawned numerous variants across European languages. In French, the common form is Antoine; in Ukrainian and Russian, Anton; in Basque, Andoni and Antton; in Bulgarian, Antoniy. Dutch diminutives include Teun, Teunis, Theun, Theunis, Ton, and Toon. The feminine form Antonia was used by Roman women. Surname descendants include Antonis and Antonise. Usage and Distribution Today, Antonius is used primarily in Dutch-speaking regions (the Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname) and in Nordic countries such as Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland (as Antoníus). It also appears in other regions with historical Dutch or Scandinavian influence, including Greenland, South Africa, Namibia, and Indonesia. Its use in daily life among the Dutch is often replaced by the shorter Anton, but Antonius remains the official registered form. Meaning: Latinized form of the Etruscan Antonius; associated erroneously with Greek anthos (flower) Origin: Etruscan, via Latin Type: Given name (Roman nomen) Usage Regions: Latin, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, and other European languages