The name Ignatius originates from the Roman family name Egnatius, whose exact meaning is unknown but is of Etruscan origin. The spelling was later altered to resemble the Latin word 'ignis,' meaning 'fire.' This name has been borne by several saints, including the third bishop of Antioch, who was martyred by being thrown to wild beasts under Emperor Trajan, and Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), the founder of the Jesuits, whose birth name was actually Íñigo.