Tironian notes

shorthand

Also known as: notae Tironianae

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July 14, 2026

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Tironian notes, or notae Tironianae, were a system of shorthand used in ancient Rome. Developed by Marcus Tullius Tiro, a secretary to Cicero, around 63 BC, this system was the first Latin shorthand and remained in use for over a thousand years. Shorthand systems like Tironian notes allowed for rapid writing by using symbols or abbreviations for letters, words, or phrases, enabling the recording of speeches and dictation.12

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shorthand
History and development of shorthand
…of Cicero’s household, invented the notae Tironianae (“Tironian notes”), the first Latin shorthand system. Devised in 63 bc, it lasted over a thousand years. Tiro also compiled a shorthand dictionary. Among the early accomplished shorthand writers were the emperor Titus, Julius Caesar, and a number of bishops. With the beginning…
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…of Cicero’s household, invented the notae Tironianae (“Tironian notes”), the first Latin shorthand system. Devised in 63 bc, it lasted over a thousand years. Tiro also compiled a shorthand dictionary. Among the early accomplished shorthand writers were the emperor Titus, Julius Caesar, and a number of bishops. With the beginning…
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diplomatics
Physical appearance of documents
The Carolingians sometimes used Tironian notes, a form of shorthand devised by Tiro, a freedman of the Roman orator Cicero.
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The Carolingians sometimes used Tironian notes, a form of shorthand devised by Tiro, a freedman of the Roman orator Cicero.
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