Skip Ancestry navigation Skip to Footer Ancestry Home
  • Home
  • Trees
  • Search
  • Memories
  • DNA
  • Subscribe
  • Cart
  • Help
  • Sign In
Home
Loading

Trees you own

    Shared with you

      Tree tools

      • My Trees
      • Start a New Tree
      • Person Preview
      • Membership
      • Family Trees Support
      Loading
      • Search All Records
      • Census & Voter Lists
      • Birth, Marriage & Death
      • Military
      • Immigration & Travel
      • Directories & Member Lists
      • Public Member Trees
      • Convict, Criminal, Land & Wills
      • Member Search
      • Card Catalogue
      Loading
      • StoryScout
      Loading
      • Buy a DNA Kit
      • Register a Kit
      • AncestryDNA®
      • AncestryDNA Support
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Discover More Family Names with an Ancestry 14-day Free Trial* 
      • Support Centre
      • About Us
      • Ancestry Blog
      • Gift Memberships
      • Site Map
      • © 2006-2026 Ancestry
      • Updated Privacy
      • Updated Terms and Conditions
      • Cookies
      • Operated by Ancestry Ireland Unlimited Company
      Group of people

      Meaning of the first name Cernunnos

      Origin

      Celtic Mythology

      Meaning

      Horned One, God of Fertility

      Variations

      Cerissa, Cerisse, Cerria
      Cernunnos is a deity originating from Celtic mythology, often referred to as the Horned One. His imagery typically features a figure with antlers, symbolizing fertility, the animal kingdom, and the natural world. Cernunnos is frequently associated with life force, abundance, and the cycles of nature, embodying the interconnectedness of all living things. He is often depicted alongside animals, particularly stags and serpents, emphasizing his role as a protector of wildlife and the wilderness.

      Cernunnos appears in various historical artifacts, inscriptions, and artistic representations, primarily from ancient Gaul and the broader Celtic culture. The most notable depiction is found on the Pillar of the Boatmen, a stone monument in Paris dating back to the 1st century CE. Inscriptions and representations of Cernunnos are rare, but his iconography has been influential in understanding Celtic spirituality and religious practices. He is often compared to other horned deities in mythology, including Pan from Greek mythology and the Christian conception of the Green Man, underscoring the reverence for nature seen in ancient cultures.

      In contemporary contexts, Cernunnos has gained renewed interest within pagan and neo-pagan communities as a symbol of nature, fertility, and masculinity. He resonates particularly with those drawn to Earth-based spiritual practices and the revival of ancient Celtic traditions. Furthermore, his image is often used in modern art, literature, and popular culture, embodying themes of ecological awareness and a connection to the natural world. Cernunnos serves as an emblem for various environmental movements, highlighting the enduring influence of ancient mythological figures in today's societal consciousness.

      What are you curious about?

      Ready to learn more about your own family? Here are two ways to begin.
      Start a free trial
      Order AncestryDNA

      Explore the origins of another name.