Etymology will never cease to fascinate me, especially that of names. My name, Emily, is derived from the Roman patrician family Aemilia, one of the oldest patrician houses of Rome. It is believed that the family began in the reign of Numa Pompilius, who was the second King of Rome, and the Aemilii were one of the gentes maiores, the major patrician families, with its members holding some of the highest offices of the state, throughout the Republican years into the Imperial. In 187BC, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, who was a Roman consul, Pontifex Maximus, and censor, oversaw the construction of Via Aemilia, the main road from Piacenza to Rimini, which is still one of the major roads of Northern Italy. He also supervised the completion of the Basilica Aemilia in the Roman forum. Marcus Aemilius Scaurus was a Roman consul and considered one of the most influential politicians of the Republic. In 115BC he oversaw the construction of the Via Aemilia Scauri road which connected Rome to Placentia and Pisa, running through Genoa. The region of Emilia-Romagna, derives the former half of its name from Via Aemilia. There is so much history behind names that we never really think of, it's kind of overwhelming to think how far back they originated.
