Terzo

Terzo is the Italian form of the Latin name Tertius, meaning “third.” The root name Tertius was both a Roman praenomen (given name) and a cognomen (family name), originating from the Latin word tertius, signifying the ordinal number three. In the New Testament, a man named Tertius is mentioned in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans (Romans 16:22) as the scribe who wrote the letter while Paul dictated it. As an Italian given name, Terzo is relatively rare but is used in Italian-speaking regions, often as a direct reference to being the third child or in tradition of naming children after numbers, a practice also seen in names like Primo (first), Secondo (second), and Quarto (fourth).

The name Tertius gave rise to various surname forms, including the Italian surname Terzi, derived from the plural or genitive form meaning “of the third” or “third ones.” In Portuguese, the cognate Tércio is used as a given name. A notable surname bearer is the Italian surname Terzo itself, which also functions as a given name in modern times, highlighting the versatility of these numerically derived names.

Many names in Western cultures descend from Latin ordinals—such as Third, Quartus, Quintus—often passed down from the Roman practice of designating birth order. Terzo thus stands as a continuation of this tradition in the Italian language, reflecting both a historical numeral name and a link to early Christian scripture through its Latin progenitor.

• Meaning: Italian form of Tertius, meaning “third”
• Origin: Latin, via Italian
• Type: Given name or surname
• Usage regions: Italy, Italian diaspora