List of Roman gentes

The gens Abronia was a Roman family during the time of the emperor Augustus. The gens is known primarily by two persons, the poet Abronius Silo, and his son, who wrote for pantomimes.

The gens Abudia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. This gens flourished during imperial times, and none of its members held any of the higher magistracies of the Roman state. Only Abudius Ruso, who had been aedile under Tiberius, is mentioned in history, but other Abudii are known from inscriptions.

The gens Aburia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome during the latter centuries of the Republic, and the first century of the Empire. The first member of this gens to achieve prominence was Marcus Aburius, praetor peregrinus in 176 BC.

The gens Accia was a Roman family during the late Republic. The gens is known primarily from two individuals, Lucius Accius, a tragic poet of the second century BC, and Titus Accius, best known for his prosecution of Aulus Cluentius Habitus in Cicero's oration Pro Cluentio. Other Accii are known from inscriptions.

The gens Acerronia or Aceronia was a minor plebeian family at Rome during the late Republic and early Empire. The most distinguished member of the gens was Gnaeus Acerronius Proculus, consul in AD 37. A number of Acerronii are known from inscriptions.

The gens Acilia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome, that flourished from the middle of the third century BC until at least the fifth century AD, a period of seven hundred years. The first of the gens to achieve prominence was Gaius Acilius, who was quaestor in 203 and tribune of the plebs in 197 BC.

The gens Actoria was an obscure Roman family of the late Republic or early Empire. The only member of this gens mentioned in history is Marcus Actorius Naso, whom Suetonius quotes as an authority on the life or times of Caesar. Other Actorii are known from inscriptions.

The gens Acutia was a minor plebeian family at Ancient Rome. Members of this gens are mentioned from the early Republic to imperial times. The first of the Acutii to achieve prominence was Marcus Acutius, tribune of the plebs in 401 BC.

The gens Aebutia was an ancient Roman family that was prominent during the early Republic. The gens was originally patrician, but also had plebeian branches. The first member to obtain the consulship was Titus Aebutius Helva, consul in 499 BC.

The gens Aelia, occasionally written Ailia, was a plebeian family in Rome, which flourished from the fifth century BC until at least the third century AD, a period of nearly eight hundred years. The archaic spelling Ailia is found on coins, but must not be confused with Allia, which is a distinct gens. The first member of the family to obtain the consulship was Publius Aelius Paetus in 337 BC.

The gens Baebia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. The first member of the gens who obtained the consulship was Gnaeus Baebius Tamphilus, in 182 BC. During the later Republic, the Baebii were frequently connected with the patrician family of the Aemilii.

The gens Balonia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens are mentioned in ancient writers, but a number are known from inscriptions.

The gens Balventia was a Roman family during the late Republic. It is known chiefly from a single individual, Titus Balventius, a primus pilus in the command of Quintus Titurius Sabinus in Gaul. He was severely wounded in the attack made by Ambiorix in 54 B.C.

The gens Bantia was a Roman family during the time of the Republic. It is known chiefly from a single member, Lucius Bantius. He was a native of Nola in Campania, and served in the Roman army at the Battle of Cannae in 216 B.C. Bantius was wounded and captured by Hannibal, but was treated kindly and set free. He then hoped to convince his city to surrender, but was dissuaded from this action by Marcus Claudius Marcellus, the Roman commander.

The gens Barbatia was a Roman family during the first century BC. It may have originated with Marcus Barbatius Philippus, a runaway slave who became a friend of Caesar, and subsequently obtained the praetorship under Marcus Antonius. In 40 BC, he was quaestor propraetore under Antonius.

The gens Bellia, also written Billia and Bilia, was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens are mentioned in history, but several are known from inscriptions.

The gens Bellicia was an aristocratic plebeian family at ancient Rome, which flourished during the first and second centuries. The Bellicii rose to prominence from Gallia Narbonensis, attaining senatorial status with Gaius Bellicius Natalis, who was appointed consul suffectus in AD 68.

The gens Belliena or Billiena was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Bellienus is the form that occurs in writers, while Billienus is more common in inscriptions. Members of this gens are first mentioned toward the end of the Republic. Lucius Bellienus obtained the praetorship in 107 BC, but was prevented from obtaining the consulship. The Bellieni occur in history down to the time of Caesar, after which the family faded into obscurity; but others are known from inscriptions.

The gens Betiliena was a Roman family known from the early decades of the imperial era. It is known chiefly from two individuals. Betilienus Bassus was triumvir monetalis in the reign of Augustus, and is probably the same man who was later put to death by order of Caligula in AD 40. Lucius Betilienus Varus was an architect, who built an aqueduct and several public buildings at Aletrium, a city in Latium, where the gens may have originated.

The gens Betucia was a Roman family during the late Republic. It is best known as a result of the orator, Titus Betucius Barrus, a native of Asculum in Picenum. Cicero described him as the most eloquent of all orators outside of Rome. He also delivered a famous speech at Rome against Quintus Servilius Caepio, who perished during the Social War.

The gens Blossia, also spelled Blosia, was a Roman family of Campanian origin, which came to prominence during the Second Punic War. The most famous member of this gens is probably Gaius Blossius, an intimate friend of Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus, whom he urged to bring forward his agrarian law. He fled from Rome after the murder of Gracchus, and eventually took his own life for fear of falling into the hands of his enemies.

The gens Bruttia was an ancient Roman family during the late Republic and into imperial times. None of the gens obtained any important magistracies until the latter half of the first century AD, when Lucius Bruttius Maximus was proconsul in Cyprus.

The gens Caecia was a Roman family during the late Republic. It does not seem to have been particularly large or important. Its best-known member was Gaius Caecius, a friend of the younger Publius Cornelius Lentulus Spinther, spoken of by Cicero in 49 BC.

The gens Caecinia was a plebeian family of Etruscan origin at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in the time of Cicero, and they remained prominent through the first century of the Empire, before fading into obscurity in the time of the Flavian emperors. A family of this name rose to prominence once more at the beginning of the fifth century.

The gens Caelia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. The nomen Caelius is frequently confounded with Coelius and Caecilius, with some individuals referred to as Caelius in manuscripts, while appearing as Coelius or Coilius on coins. Although the Caelii asserted their great antiquity, none of them attained any of the higher offices of the Roman state until the praetorship of Publius Caelius in 74 BC, and the first of this gens who obtained the consulship was Gaius Caelius Rufus in AD 17. The emperor Balbinus was a descendant of the Caelii.

The gens Caeparia was a Roman family during the late Republic. It is best known from two individuals: Marcus Caeparius of Tarracina, one of the conspirators of Catiline, who was supposed to induce the people of rural Apulia to revolt, in 63 BC; and another Marcus Caeparius, mentioned by Cicero in 46 BC.

The gens Caepasia or Cepasia was an obscure plebeian family at Ancient Rome. It is known primarily from two brothers, Gaius and Lucius Caepasius, who obtained the quaestorship through their oratorical skill. Cicero describes them as contemporaries of Quintus Hortensius, and says that they were hard workers, although their rhetorical style was relatively simple. Several members of this gens are known from early Christian inscriptions at Rome, including a number of children.

The gens Caerellia was a minor Roman family during the late Republic and in imperial times. It is known from only a few individuals. Caerellia was a wealthy friend of Cicero, distinguished for her love of philosophical pursuits. Caerellius Priscus was governor of Roman Britain in the late 2nd century.

The gens Caesennia was an Etruscan family from Tarquinii during the late Roman Republic and in imperial times. Two of its members were mentioned by Cicero, and the name is found in sepulchral inscriptions.

The gens Caesetia was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. It is known from a small number of individuals living during the late Republic.

The gens Caesonia was a plebeian family of ancient Rome. They first appear in history during the late Republic, remaining on the periphery of the Roman aristocracy until the time of Nero. Roman empress Milonia Caesonia, the last wife of the emperor Caligula was presumably descended from the Caesonii, as she bore their nomen. Another family of Caesonii attained the consulship several times beginning in the late second century; it is not clear how or whether they were related to the earlier Caesonii.

The gens Decia was a plebeian family of high antiquity, which became illustrious in Roman history by the example of its members sacrificing themselves for the preservation of their country. The first of the family known to history was Marcus Decius, chosen as a representative of the plebeians during the secession of 495 BC.

The gens Decimia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned towards the end of the third century BC, participating on the Roman side during the Second Punic War.

The gens Dellia was a plebeian family of equestrian rank at ancient Rome. It is known chiefly from a single individual, Quintus Dellius, an eques, who served successively with Dolabella, Cassius, and Marcus Antonius. Shortly before the Battle of Actium, having been sent to collect auxiliaries, he deserted to Octavian, perhaps motivated by his fear of Cleopatra, whom he had offended. He wrote a history of the war against the Parthians, with whom he had fought under Antonius. Although the history is entirely lost, it is believed to be the source for Plutarch's account of that war. Dellius is probably the same person to whom Horace dedicated the third ode of his second book.

The gens Digitia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned during the Second Punic War.

The gens Domitia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. The first of the gens to achieve prominence was Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus, consul in 332 BC. His son, Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus Maximus, was consul in 283, and the first plebeian censor. The family produced several distinguished generals, and towards the end of the Republic, the Domitii were looked upon as one of the most illustrious gentes.

The gens Duilia or Duillia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. The first of the gens to achieve prominence was Marcus Duilius, tribune of the plebs in BC 470. The family produced several important statesmen over the first three centuries of the Republic, before fading into obscurity.

The gens Durmia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. It is known chiefly from a single individual, Marcus Durmius, a triumvir monetalis under Augustus. He minted several coins, including one bearing the head of Augustus on the obverse, and a boar on the reverse; another with a lion feeding upon a stag; and a third with a youthful head and a quadriga, with the inscription Honori, probably referring to the games of Virtus and Honor celebrated by Augustus.

The gens Duronia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Although relatively obscure, the family was of sufficient importance to hold a seat in the Roman Senate. Its members are mentioned during the first and second centuries BC.

The gens Egilia was a plebeian family at Rome. It is known chiefly from a single individual, Lucius Egilius, one of three commissioners who superintended the foundation of the colony planted at Luca, in 177 BC.

The gens Egnatia was a plebeian family of equestrian rank at ancient Rome. Only a few of the Egnatii held any magistracies, of whom the most important may have been Gnaeus Egnatius, who held the praetorship during the second century BC, and served as governor of Macedonia, shortly after its institution as a Roman province.

The gens Egnatuleia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. The only member of the gens to achieve any of the higher offices of the state was Lucius Egnatuleius, quaestor in 44 BC.

The gens Ennia was a family of Calabrian descent. It is known chiefly from a single individual, Quintus Ennius, a soldier, dramatist, and poet, whom the Romans came to regard as the father of their literature. Ennius was born at Rudiae, a village near Brundisium in Calabria, in 239 BC. He claimed descent from the ancient lords of Messapia. As a young man, he served as a soldier in the Roman army, rising to the rank of centurion. At the age of thirty-eight, he came to Rome in the train of Marcus Porcius Cato. Most of his works have been lost, or exist only in fragments, but he was greatly influential on later Roman writers, including Vergil.

The gens Epidia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. The only members to achieve any importance lived during the first century BC.

The gens Eppia was a plebeian family at Rome. It is known chiefly from a single individual, Marcus Eppius, a Roman senator, who took an active part in favour of Pompeius on the breaking out of the Civil War in 49 BC. He was one of the legates of Quintus Metellus Scipio in the African war, and was pardoned by Caesar, with many others of his party, after the Battle of Thapsus. Afterwards he seems to have gone into Spain, and renewed the war under Sextus Pompeius, in 46 and 45.

The gens Equitia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome, known from only a few individuals. No member of this gens obtained the consulship prior to the third century, but the emperor Probus may have been descended from the Tarquitii.

The gens Erucia was a plebeian family at Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned early in the first century BC; the name has been claimed as Etruscan. However, in the second century of the Empire, the Erucii attained considerable distinction.

The gens Fabricia was a plebeian family of ancient Rome. Members of this gens are known from the early third century BC down to the end of the Republic, but they seldom attained positions of importance in the Roman state.

The gens Fadia was a plebeian family at Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned around the time of Cicero, but they did not obtain any of the higher offices of the Roman state under the Republic. Their fortunes improved under the Empire, and two of the Fadii held consulships during the second century.

The gens Falcidia was a plebeian family at Rome. It is known chiefly from two individuals, Gaius Falcidius and Publius Falcidius, both of whom were influential in the development of Roman law during the first century BC.

The gens Fannia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome, which first appears in history during the second century BC. The first member of this gens to attain the consulship was Gaius Fannius Strabo, in 161 BC.

The gens Faucia was a Roman family at Arpinum. It is known chiefly from a single individual, Marcus Faucius, an eques and a native of Arpinum, who was one of three commissioners sent in 46 BC to recover the dues of his municipium from its estates in Cisalpine Gaul. The rents from this land were the only fund for the repair of their temples and the cost of their sacrifices and festivals, and had perhaps been withheld due to the Civil War. Cicero recommended the commissioners to Marcus Junius Brutus, then praetor of Cisalpine Gaul. This otherwise unremarkable event is noteworthy because of the light it sheds on the local governments of Italy.

The gens Favonia was a plebeian family at Rome. It is known chiefly from three individuals, one of whom, Marcus Favonius was a politician during the period of the fall of the Roman Republic.

The gens Fidiculania was a plebeian family at Rome. It is known chiefly from a single individual, Gaius Fidiculanius Falcula, a Roman senator, and one of the judices at the trial of Statius Albius Oppianicus in 74 BC. The general indignation at the verdict convicting Oppianicus led to accusations of irregularities against Fidiculanius, but he was acquitted. On subsequent occasions Cicero presented Fidiculanius in different lights, according to the needs of his clients.

The gens Flaminia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. During the first five centuries of Rome, no mention is made of any member of the Flaminia gens. In former times the Flaminii were believed to be only a family of the Quinctia gens; but this opinion arose from a confusion of the Flaminii with the Flaminini, the latter of whom belonged to the ancient patrician Quinctia gens.

The gens Gabinia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens first appear in the second century BC. The nomen derives from the city of Gabii, east of Rome.

The gens Galeria was a Roman family of Imperial times. The family first rose to prominence under the Julio-Claudian dynasty, but the most illustrious person of the name was the emperor Galerius, one of the heirs of Diocletian, who reigned from AD 305 to 311, although he cannot have been a direct descendant of the earlier family.

The gens Gallia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Several members of this gens are mentioned during the first century BC.

The gens Gargonia was a minor Roman family during first and second centuries BC. Some of the gens were of equestrian rank, but none appear to have held any curule magistracies.

The gens Gavia, or occasionally Gabia, was a Roman family of plebeian descent. It first appears in history during the first century BC, but none of its members obtained any of the curule magistracies until imperial times. The Gavi Arch at Verona was built in honor of one of the Gavii.

The gens Gegania was an old patrician family at ancient Rome, which was prominent from the earliest period of the Republic to the middle of the fourth century BC. The first of this gens to obtain the consulship was Titus Geganius Macerinus in 492 BC. The gens fell into obscurity even before the Samnite Wars, and is not mentioned again by Roman historians until the final century of the Republic.

The gens Gellia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome, where they settled after the Second Punic War. The first of the Gellii to obtain the consulship was Lucius Gellius Poplicola, in 72 BC, but the most famous member of this gens is probably the grammarian Aulus Gellius, who flourished during the second century AD.

The gens Geminia was a plebeian family at Rome. The only member of this gens to hold any of the higher offices of the Roman state under the Republic was Gaius Geminius, praetor in 92 BC.

The gens Genucia was a prominent family of the Roman Republic. It was probably of patrician origin, but most of the Genucii appearing in history were plebeian. The first of the Genucii to hold the consulship was Titus Genucius Augurinus in 451 BC.

The gens Gessia was a minor Roman family, known chiefly from the east of Imperial times. Members of this gens are first mentioned toward the end of the second century BC. Although they were of senatorial rank, none of the Gessii are known to have held any curule magistracies. The emperor Severus Alexander is believed to have been descended from a branch of this family.

The gens Grania was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Although none of them ever obtained the consulship, the family was of "senatorial rank", and was well known from the latter half of the second century BC. In Imperial times, a number of them became distinguished in military and provincial service.

The gens Gratidia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Originally coming from Arpinum, members of this gens are known from the final century of the Republic.

The gens Hateria, occasionally Ateria, was a plebeian family at ancient Rome, known from the last century of the Republic and under the early Empire. The most distinguished of the Haterii was Quintus Haterius, a senator and rhetorician in the time of Augustus and Tiberius. He was consul suffectus in 5 BC.

The gens Heia was a Roman family at Messana, which appears in history during the final century of the Republic. They were part of the ancient nobility of the city, and at some time became hereditary clientes of the Claudian gens.

The gens Helvia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. This gens is first mentioned at the time of the Second Punic War, but the only member of the family to hold any curule magistracy under the Republic was Gaius Helvius, praetor in BC 198. Soon afterward, the family slipped into obscurity, from which it was redeemed by the emperor Pertinax, nearly four centuries later.

The gens Helvidia was a plebeian family at Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in the final decades of the Republic. A century later, the Helvidii distinguished themselves by what has been called their "earnest, but fruitless, patriotism."

The gens Herminia was an ancient patrician house at Rome. Members of the gens appear during the first war between the Roman Republic and the Etruscans, circa 508 BC, and from then to 448 BC. Two members of the family held the consulship, Titus Herminius Aquilinus in 506 BC, and Lars Herminius Aquilinus in 448.

The gens Hirria was a minor Roman family, appearing in history during the final century of the Republic, and in Imperial times. It is chiefly remembered as the result of Gaius Hirrius, a farmer of lampreys in the time of Caesar.

The gens Hirtuleia was a minor plebeian family of equestrian rank at ancient Rome, which appears in history during the final century of the Republic, and under the early Empire.

The gens Hortensia was an ancient plebeian family in Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in the fifth century BC, but from that time somewhat infrequently until the final century of the Republic. The most illustrious of the gens was the orator Quintus Hortensius, a man of great learning, and a contemporary of Cicero. Under the Empire they seem to have sunk back into obscurity.

The gens Hosidia was a family at Rome during the last century of the Republic, and into imperial times. The most illustrious of the gens, Gnaeus Hosidius Geta, obtained the consulship in AD 47.

The gens Iasdia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Hardly any members of this gens appear in history, but a few are known from inscriptions. They were briefly prominent during the first half of the third century.

The gens Iccia was a minor plebeian family at Rome. It is known primarily from a small number of individuals who lived during the first century BC, as well as a number of inscriptions from Gallia Narbonensis.

The gens Icilia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. During the early Republic, the Icilii were distinguished by their unwavering support for the rights of the plebeians against the patrician aristocracy.

The gens Ignia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens appear in history, but a number are known from inscriptions.

The gens Insteia was a minor family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens held any of the curule magistracies under the Republic, but several served as military commanders under Rome's leading generals during the first century BC, and during Imperial times. By the second century, the family was important enough to obtain the consulship.

The gens Iteia or Itia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens are mentioned by ancient writers, but several are known from inscriptions. Perhaps the most illustrious of the family was Iteius Rufus, legate of Thracia during the reign of Hadrian.

The gens Ituria was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Almost no members of this gens are mentioned by historians, but several are known from inscriptions.

The gens Jania was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens are mentioned in ancient writers, but several are known from inscriptions.

The gens Javolena, occasionally found as Javolenia, was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Few members of this gens appear in history, but two of them attained the consulship, one under Domitian, and the other in the time of Antoninus Pius.

The gens Jucundia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens are mentioned in ancient writers, but a number are known from inscriptions.

The gens Juncia was an obscure Roman family of Augusta Taurinorum in Cisalpine Gaul. No members of this plebeian gens are mentioned in ancient writers, but a few are known from inscriptions, dating from the first century to the third.

The gens Justia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens are mentioned in ancient writers, but several are known from inscriptions.

The gens Justinia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens are mentioned in ancient writers, but several are known from inscriptions, chiefly from Gaul and Germania.

The gens Laberia was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in the second century BC, at which time they held senatorial rank. Most of the members mentioned later were equites, but toward end of the first century AD they attained the consulship, which several of them held throughout the second century.

The gens Laceria was a minor plebeian family at Rome. It is known primarily from Gaius Lacerius, one of the tribunes of the plebs in 401 BC. A few other Lacerii are known from inscriptions.

The gens Laecania or Lecania was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens first appear in history during the reign of Tiberius. The first to attain the consulship was Gaius Laecanius Bassus in AD 40.

The gens Laelia was a plebeian family at Rome. The first of the gens to obtain the consulship was Gaius Laelius in 190 BC.

The gens Laenia was a minor family at Rome during the first century BC. It is remembered chiefly from two individuals, one a friend of Varro, the other of Cicero. Both had houses at Brundisium, suggesting either that the family came from that region, or that the individuals mentioned were closely related.

The gens Laetilia was a minor Roman family during the final century of the Republic and under the early Empire. It is known chiefly from a few individuals.

The gens Laetoria was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Its members appear regularly throughout the history of the Republic. None of the Laetorii ever obtained the consulship, but several achieved lesser offices of the Roman state.

The gens Lafrenia was a minor family in Roman history. It is known from only a few individuals, only one of whom was a figure of any consequence.

The gens Lamponia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome, known from only a few individuals. The most important was Marcus Lamponius, one of the leaders of the allies during the Social War.

The gens Laronia was a minor family at ancient Rome. The most famous of the Laronii was Quintus Laronius, consul suffectus in 33 BC. Other Laronii are known from inscriptions.

The gens Lartia, also spelled Larcia, or rarely Largia, was a patrician family at ancient Rome, whose members earned great distinction at the beginning of the Republic. Spurius Larcius was one of the two companions of Horatius, who defended the Pons Sublicius against Lars Porsena in 508 BC. A few years later, Titus Larcius became the first Roman dictator. However, the gens all but vanishes from history after this period. A family of the same name existed in the late Republic and under the early Empire, but their relationship to the earlier Lartii is unknown.

The gens Maecia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are rarely mentioned before the time of Cicero, but in Imperial times they rose to prominence, achieving the consulship on at several occasions.

The gens Maelia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are mentioned in the time of the early Republic, from just after the decemvirs down to the Samnite Wars. The Maelii belonged to the equestrian order, and were among the wealthiest of the plebeians. The most famous of the Maelii was probably Spurius Maelius, a wealthy merchant who purchased grain from the Etruscans during a famine in 440 BC, and sold it to the poor at a nominal price. The following year, the patricians accused him of conspiring to make himself king, and when he resisted arrest he was slain by the magister equitum, Gaius Servilius Ahala.

The gens Maenia, occasionally written Mainia, was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned soon after the establishment of the Republic, and occur in history down to the second century BC. Several of them held the position of tribune of the plebs, from which they strenuously advocated on behalf of their order. The most illustrious of the family was Gaius Maenius, consul in 338 BC, and dictator in both 320 and 314. In some manuscripts, the nomen Maenius appears to have been erroneously substituted for Menenius or Manlius; there are also instances of confusion with Manilius, Maelius, and Maevius.

The gens Maevia, occasionally written Mevia, was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are known from the later Republic, although the family may possibly have been much older, and well into Imperial times. None of the Maevii ever obtained the higher offices of the Roman state. Their nomen is frequently confounded with the similar Maenius.

The gens Magia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned at the time of the Second Punic War. Although several of them performed useful service to the Roman state, none of the Magii ever held the consulship.

The gens Mallia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Due to its relative obscurity, the nomen Mallius is frequently, but erroneously amended to the more common Manlius. The only member of this gens to obtain any of the higher curule magistracies under the Republic was Gnaeus Mallius Maximus, consul in 105 BC.

The gens Manilia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are frequently confused with the Manlii, Mallii, and Mamilii. Several of the Manilii were distinguished in the service of the Republic, with Manius Manilius obtaining the consulship in 149 BC; but the family itself remained small and relatively unimportant.

The gens Nasennia was an obscure plebeian family at Rome. None of the Nasennii held any of the higher offices of the Roman state, and the family is best known from Gaius Nasennius, a soldier in the time of Caesar. Many other Nasennii are known from inscriptions.

The gens Nasidiena was an obscure plebeian family at Rome. The gens is best known from Nasidienus Rufus, a wealthy eques whose dinner given for Maecenas is satirized by Horace.

The gens Nautia was an old patrician family at ancient Rome. The first of the gens to obtain the consulship was Spurius Nautius Rutilus in 488 BC, and from then until the Samnite Wars the Nautii regularly filled the highest offices of the Roman Republic. After that time, the Nautii all but disappear from the record, appearing only in a handful of inscriptions, mostly from Rome and Latium. A few Nautii occur in imperial times, including a number who appear to have been freedmen, and in the provinces.

The gens Neratia or Naeratia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome, some of whom subsequently became patricians. The first of the gens to appear in history occur in the time of Augustus, but they did not rise to prominence until the time of Vespasian, when Marcus Neratius Pansa became the first to obtain the consulship. The Neratii married into the Roman imperial family in the fourth century.

The gens Ninnia was a plebeian family at Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned at Capua during the Second Punic War, and are found at Rome towards the end of the Republic. Several Ninnii held the consulship under the Flavian and Antonine emperors.

The gens Novellia was an obscure plebeian family at Rome. The only member of this gens known to have held any magistracies was Torquatus Novellius Atticus, perhaps better known from an anecdote of Pliny the Elder; however, many others are known from inscriptions.

The gens Novia was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens first appear during the final century of the Republic, but the first of the Novii to obtain the consulship was Decimus Junius Novius Priscus in AD 78.

The gens Obellia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome, known almost entirely from inscriptions.

The gens Obultronia was an obscure plebeian family at Rome. Most members of this gens are known only from inscriptions, especially a group from Casinum in Latium, and another from Salona in Dalmatia.

The gens Occia was a minor plebeian family at Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned under Tiberius, but must have been at Rome for much longer; for Tacitus speaks of Occia, a Vestal Virgin who died in AD 19, after serving faithfully for fifty-seven years. A few of the Occii pursued political careers in this period, but most are known only from inscriptions.

The gens Oclatia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. The only member known to have held any magistracy is Gaius Oclatius Modestus, quaestor in the first half of the second century, but many Oclatii are known from inscriptions.

The gens Oclatinia was an obscure Roman family of imperial times. It is best known from a single individual, Marcus Oclatinius Adventus, consul for the second time in AD 218, together with the emperor Macrinus. From various sources, we know that he was procurator Augustorum under Septimius Severus in AD 202, and governor of Britain between 205 and 207.

The gens Octavena was an obscure plebeian family at Rome. The gens is known primarily from a single individual, the jurist Octavenus, cited by a number of later authorities, although several other Octaveni are known from inscriptions.

The gens Octavia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome, which was raised to patrician status by Caesar during the first century BC. The first member of the gens to achieve prominence was Gnaeus Octavius Rufus, quaestor circa 230 BC. Over the following two centuries, the Octavii held many of the highest offices of the state; but the most celebrated of the family was Gaius Octavius, the grandnephew and adopted son of Caesar, who was proclaimed Augustus by the senate in 27 BC.

The gens Ofania was a minor plebeian family at Rome. Members of this gens known almost entirely from inscriptions.

The gens Ofilia, also spelled Ofillia and Ofellia, was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Its most illustrious member was doubtless the jurist Aulus Ofilius, a friend of both Caesar and Cicero.

The gens Ogulnia was an ancient plebeian family at ancient Rome. The gens first came to prominence at the beginning of the third century BC, when the brothers Quintus and Gnaeus Ogulnius, tribunes of the plebs, carried a law opening most of the Roman priesthoods to the plebeians. The only member of the family to obtain the consulship was Quintus Ogulnius Gallus in 269 BC. However, Ogulnii are still found in imperial times.

The gens Ollia was a minor plebeian family at Rome. Few members of this gens achieved any prominence, and the best-known may have been Titus Ollius, the father of the empress Poppaea Sabina. Other Ollii are known from inscriptions.

The gens Opellia, also spelled Opelia and Opilia, was a minor family of imperial Rome, which briefly emerged from obscurity when Marcus Opellius Macrinus was proclaimed emperor following the murder of Caracalla in AD 217. The only members of this gens who appear in history are the emperor and his son, Marcus Opellius Diadumenianus, who ruled briefly as co-emperor in 218, but other Opellii are found in inscriptions, particularly from Dacia.

The gens Paccia, occasionally written Pactia, was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Only a few members of this gens achieved distinction in the Roman state, of whom the most illustrious was Gaius Paccius Africanus, consul in AD 67.

The gens Pacidia was an obscure plebeian or patrician family at ancient Rome. Few members of this gens are mentioned by the historians, but a number are known from inscriptions. The most notable may have been the two Pacidii who were commanders in the army of Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus during the Civil War.

The gens Pacilia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Few members of this gens are mentioned by the ancient historians, of whom the most famous may be a certain Marcus Pacilius spoken of by Cicero in his second oration against Verres. However, many Pacilii are known from inscriptions.

The gens Paconia was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens obtained any of the higher offices of the Roman state in the time of the Republic, but Aulus Paconius Sabinus held the consulship in AD 58, during the reign of Nero.

The gens Pactumeia was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are not mentioned by the historians until imperial times, when one branch of the family achieved high rank, holding several consulships during the first and second centuries.

The gens Pacuvia was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned during the second century BC, and from then down to the first century of the Empire Pacuvii are occasionally encountered in the historians. The first of the Pacuvii to achieve prominence at Rome, and certainly the most illustrious of the family, was the tragic poet Marcus Pacuvius.

The gens Palfuria was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned during the first century of the Empire. The most illustrious of the family was Publius Palfurius, who held the consulship in AD 55.

The gens Palpellia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned during the first century of the Empire, with Sextus Palpellius Hister obtaining the consulship in AD 43. Few other Palpellii are known from the historians, but several are known from inscriptions.

The gens Pantuleia, occasionally written Patuleia, was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned during the first century of the Empire. According to Tacitus, at least some of the Pantuleii were of equestrian rank, but few of them achieved any of the higher offices of the Roman state.

The gens Papia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned at the time of the Samnite Wars, but do not appear at Rome until the final century of the Republic. Marcus Papius Mutilus was the only member of the family to attain the consulship, which he held in AD 9.

The gens Papinia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned toward the end of the Republic. In imperial times, the family achieved some prominence, with Sextus Papinius Alienus holding the consulship in AD 36. The nomen Papinius is sometimes confused with the more common Papirius and Pomponius.

The gens Papiria was a patrician family at ancient Rome. According to tradition, the Papirii had already achieved prominence in the time of the kings, and the first Rex Sacrorum and Pontifex Maximus of the Republic were members of this gens. Lucius Papirius Mugillanus was the first of the Papirii to obtain the consulship in 444 BC. The patrician members of the family regularly occupied the highest offices of the Roman state down to the time of the Punic Wars. Their most famous member was Lucius Papirius Cursor, five times consul between 326 and 313 BC, who earned three triumphs during the Samnite Wars. Most of the Papirii who held office under the later Republic belonged to various plebeian branches of the family. Although the most illustrious Papirii flourished in the time of the Republic, a number of the family continued to hold high office during the first two centuries of the Empire.

The gens Quartia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens appear in history, but several are known from inscriptions.

The gens Quartinia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Few members of this gens are mentioned in history, but a number are known from inscriptions.

The gens Quinctilia, also written Quintilia, was a patrician family at ancient Rome, dating from the earliest period of Roman history, and continuing well into imperial times. Despite its great antiquity, the gens never attained much historical importance. The only member who obtained the consulship under the Republic was Sextus Quinctilius in 453 BC. The gens produced numerous praetors and other magistrates, but did not obtain the consulship again for over four hundred years.

The gens Quirinia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens appear in history, but several are known from inscriptions.

The gens Rabonia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Only a few members of this gens are mentioned in history or known from inscriptions.

The gens Rabuleia was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in the early decades of the Republic, and Manius Rabuleius was a member of the second decemvirate in 450 BC. However, the Rabuleii subsequently fell into obscurity, and only a few of this family are known from later inscriptions.

The gens Racilia was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are mentioned as early as the fifth century BC, but few of them achieved any prominence in the Roman state.

The gens Raecia, also spelled Racia, was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned at the time of the Second Punic War. Marcus Raecius was praetor in 170 BC. However, after this the family fell into obscurity until imperial times.

The gens Ragonia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in the early decades of the Empire, but they did not become prominent until the time of Commodus, in the late second century, from which period several of them attained positions of high distinction in the Roman state.

The gens Rammia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in the period leading to the Third Macedonian War, but no Rammius attained a position of importance in the Roman state until Quintus Rammius Martialis, governor of Egypt early in the second century AD.

The gens Rasinia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Hardly any members of this gens are mentioned in history, but a number are known from inscriptions. In imperial times a Gaius Rasinius Silo was governor of Noricum.

The gens Reginia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Few members of this gens are mentioned in history, but several are known from inscriptions.

The gens Remmia, occasionally written Remia, was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Only a few members of this gens are mentioned in history, of whom the most illustrious was the grammarian Quintus Remmius Palaemon, but many others are known from inscriptions.

The gens Sabellia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Few members of this gens are mentioned in history, and none of them achieved any of the higher offices of the Roman state. The most famous of this family was Sabellius of Ptolemais in Pentapolis, the author of the so-called Sabellian Heresy. Other Sabellii are known from inscriptions.

The gens Sabidia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Few members of this gens are mentioned in ancient writers, but a number are known from inscriptions.

The gens Sabinia, occasionally written Sabineia, was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Only a few members of this gens are mentioned in history, but others are known from inscriptions. Titus Sabinius Barbarus attained the consulship in the reign of Hadrian.

The gens Sabucia was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in imperial times. The most illustrious of the family was Gaius Sabucius Major Caecilianus, who obtained the consulship in AD 186. Other Sabucii are known from inscriptions.

The gens Saenia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in the final century of the Republic, and Lucius Saenius attained the consulship in 30 BC.

The gens Safinia was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Few members of this gens are mentioned in history, but a number are known from inscriptions.

The gens Saliena or Salliena, also written Salena, Sallena, Sallenia, and Sallienia, was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Few members of this gens are mentioned in history, but a number are known from inscriptions.

The gens Sallustia, occasionally written Salustia, was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in the time of Cicero, and from that time they attained particular distinction as statesmen and writers. The most illustrious of the family was the historian Gaius Sallustius Crispus, who wrote valuable works on the Jugurthine War and the Conspiracy of Catiline, which still exist.

The gens Salonia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned as early as the fourth century BC, but few of them attained any of the higher offices of the Roman state, until the latter part of the first century AD, when they married into the imperial family.

The gens Saltia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Hardly any members of this gens are mentioned in history, but others are known from inscriptions.

The gens Saltoria was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens are mentioned in ancient writers, but a few are known from inscriptions, including two from Alba Fucens in Sabinum.

The gens Tadia was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in the time of Cicero, but few achieved any great distinction in the Roman state.

The gens Talia or Tallia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Hardly any members of this gens are mentioned by ancient writers, but several are known from inscriptions.

The gens Tampia was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in history during the time of Nero, but few achieved any distinction in the Roman state. The nomen Tampius is easily confused with that of Ampius. The most illustrious of the Tampii was Lucius Tampius Flavianus, who held the consulship twice during the latter half of the first century.

The gens Tanicia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens are mentioned by ancient writers, but a few are known from inscriptions.

The gens Tannonia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Few members of this gens are mentioned in Roman literature, but many are known from inscriptions.

The gens Tanusia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Few members of this gens are mentioned in history, and none attained any of the higher offices of the Roman state. Quintus Cicero mentions that the heads of this family were proscribed by Sulla, and Tanusius Geminus was a historian of the same period, whose work has now been lost. A few other Tanusii are known from epigraphy.

The gens Tapsennia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens occur in history, but several are known from an inscription dating from the middle of the first century, under the early empire.

The gens Taracia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens appear in history, although at least one held the rank of quaestor at an uncertain period. Several are known from inscriptions.

The gens Taria was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in the time of Augustus, when Lucius Tarius Rufus attained the consulship.

The gens Tariolena was an obscure plebeian family of Roman times. No members of this gens appear in history, but several are known from inscriptions.

The gens Taronia or Tarronia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome, known from the late Republic until at least the fourth century. No members of this gens are mentioned in history, but from epigraphy it appears that they had reached senatorial rank by the early third century.

The gens Tarpeia was a minor patrician family at ancient Rome. Only a few members of this gens are known, and the Tarpeii vanish from history after the early Republic. The Tarpeian Rock, a promontory on the Capitoline Hill, from which those condemned for treason were thrown to their deaths, is said to have been named after Tarpeia, the archetype of all Roman traitors. There seems to have been a senatorial family of this name in imperial times.

The gens Umbilia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens are mentioned by Roman writers, but several are known from inscriptions, indicating that they had attained senatorial rank by the late second century.

The gens Umbonia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. This gens is perhaps best known from Umbonius Silo, governor of Hispania Baetica in AD 44, but several others are known from inscriptions.

The gens Umbrena was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Hardly any members of this gens appear in history, of whom the best known may have been Publius Umbrenus, one of the Catilinian conspirators in 63 BC. A few others are known from inscriptions.

The gens Umbria, occasionally written Umbreia, was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Only a few members of this gens are mentioned by Roman writers, but a number are known from inscriptions. Marcus Umbrius Primus was the first to attain the consulship, in the time of Commodus.

The gens Umbricia was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Only a few members of this gens are mentioned by Roman writers, but they had achieved senatorial rank by the second century. The most famous of the Umbricii are probably the haruspex Gaius Umbricius Melior, who served the emperors of the middle first century, and Aulus Umbricius Scaurus, a merchant of Pompeii whose fish sauces were widely distributed. Quintus Umbricius Proculus was a second-century governor of Hispania Citerior. Many other Umbricii are known from inscriptions.

The gens Ummidia was a Roman family which flourished during the first and second centuries. The first member of the gens to achieve prominence was Gaius Ummidius Durmius Quadratus, governor of Syria during the reigns of Claudius and Nero. The Ummidii held several consulships in the second century, and through the marriage of Gaius Ummidius Quadratus Annianus Verus they were related to the emperor Marcus Aurelius.

The gens Urbania was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens appear in history, but several are known from inscriptions.

The gens Urbinia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Only a few members of this gens are mentioned by Roman writers, but others are known from inscriptions.

The 'gens Urgulania was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Few members of this gens are mentioned in history, of whom the most prominent was Urgulania, a friend of the empress Livia, and grandmother of Plautia Urgulanilla, the first wife of the emperor Claudius.

The gens Urvinia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens are mentioned by Roman writers, but several are known from inscriptions.

The gens Velia was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in the latter part of the first century AD. The first of the Velii to obtain the consulship was Decimus Velius Fidus in AD 144.

The gens Verginia or Virginia was a prominent family at ancient Rome, which from an early period was divided into patrician and plebeian branches. The gens was of great antiquity, and frequently filled the highest honors of the state during the early years of the Republic. The first of the family who obtained the consulship was Opiter Verginius Tricostus in 502 BC, the seventh year of the Republic. The plebeian members of the family were also numbered amongst the early tribunes of the people.

The gens Vetilia, also written Vecilia, was a minor plebeian family at Rome. Members of this gens never attained much importance in the Roman state.

The gens Vibullia, occasionally written Vibulia, was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens first appear in history in the years following the Third Samnite War, but after this they are hardly mentioned until the end of the Republic, at which time they were of senatorial rank. A wealthy family of this name rose to prominence at Athens during the latter part of the first century. Others are known from inscriptions.

The gens Villia was a plebeian family at Rome. Its members are mentioned in the first century of the Republic, but the only Villius who obtained the consulship was Publius Villius Tappulus, in BC 199.

The gens Viridia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are known only from inscriptions, evidently dating to imperial times.