As is well known, Cassius was originally an ancient Roman family name (↑), but Muhammad Ali, generally considered among the greatest heavyweights in the sport's history, recognized his name as a "slave name".
After some reflection, I began wondering whether naming slaves using names of Roman nobility was common. Was it?
If so, why did slave holders used to name their slaves with the name of the Roman gens?
If not, why did Muhammad Ali affirmed that his name was a "slave name"?