A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

or PAULUS, a Roman cognomen in many gentes, but best known as the name of a family of the Aemilia gens. [See below.] This surname was no doubt originally given to a member of the Aemilia gens on account of the smallness of his stature. The name seems to have been originally written with a double l, which is the form found on the republican denarii and in earlier inscriptions; but on the imperial coins, as iu that of Paula [see above], and in later inscriptions, the word occurs with only one l. Paulus is also the form used by the Greek writers. As the name of many persons mentioned below is always written Paulus, and not Paullus, it is thought better for the sake of uniformity to adopt in all cases the former orthography, though in some instances the latter would be the preferable form.