Roman family name which possibly derives from the Latin element cornu
"horn". In Acts in the New Testament
Cornelius is a centurion who is directed by an angel to seek Peter
. After speaking with Peter he converts to Christianity, and he is traditionally deemed the first gentile convert. The name was also borne by a few early saints
, including a 3rd-century pope. In England it came into use in the 16th century, partly due to Dutch influence.