Acutia (gens)


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.

Origin

The nomen Acutius is derived from the Latin adjective acutus, sharp or intelligent.

Praenomina

The main praenomina of the Acutii were Marcus, Lucius, Quintus, and Gaius, four of the most common names throughout Roman history. A number of other praenomina received occasional use, of which only Publius appears regularly. Salvius, an Oscan praenomen, occurs once. Rufus, which also occurs, may have been a cognomen rather than a praenomen, although it was occasionally used as a praenomen in Cisalpine Gaul; or it may have been a servile name.

Branches and cognomina

The earliest Acutii are found without a cognomen. Nerva, the surname of Quintus Acutius, consul in AD 100, is derived from nervus, sinewy.

Members