The Gellii were of Samnite origin, and the first of this name occurring in history was the general Statius Gellius, who was captured together with his army in 305 BC, during the Second Samnite War. Another general of the name, Gellius Egnatius, fought against Rome during the Third Samnite War. The family does not appear to have reached Rome before the end of the Second Punic War, but probably arrived soon afterward. The earliest known Gellius at Rome was Gnaeus Gellius, the accuser of Lucius Turius, who was defended by Cato the Elder.
During the Republic, the only cognomina used by the Gellii were Canus and Poplicola or Publicola. The former surname means "white" or "light grey", most likely referring to someone with very light hair, or hair that had become preternaturally white; it belongs to a large class of cognomina derived from the physical characteristics of an individual. Poplicola means "one who courts the people," and is most famous as the surname of Publius Valerius Publicola, one of the first consuls in 509 BC, and his descendants, although the surname occasionally appears in other gentes. This surname may have entered the Gellia gens because Lucius Gellius Poplicola, the consul of 72 BC, was descended from the Valerii, or because he married into the Valerii, or perhaps adopted his son, the consul of 36 BC, from the Valeria gens.
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Statius Gellius, a Samnite general during the Third Samnite War. He was defeated and captured by the consuls, along with his entire army, in 305 BC.
Gellius Egnatius, a Samnite general during the Third Samnite War. He forged alliances with the Etruscans, Gauls, and Umbrians, but was finally defeated and slain at the Battle of Sentinum in 295 BC.
Gnaeus Gellius, accused Lucius Turius, who was defended by Cato the Elder. He was probably the father of Gnaeus Gellius, the historian, with whom he is frequently confused.
Gnaeus Gellius Cn. f., a historian who flourished during the second century BC. He seems to have paid careful attention to chronology and to the legends associated with the founding of Rome, although his history continued down to at least 145 BC. He was triumvir monetalis in 138.
Aulus Gellius, a celebrated grammarian, who must have flourished during the reigns of Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius. He is best remembered for his Noctes Atticae, or "Attic Nights", a rambling collection of topics, anecdotes, and quotations from other ancient authors that interested him.
Lucius Gellius L. f. L. n., consul in 72 BC, during the War against Spartacus. He must have reached a great age, as he was the contubernalis of the consul Gaius Papirius Carbo in 120 BC, and was still living in 55 BC, when Cicero speaks of him as his friend.
Lucius Gellius L. f. L. n. Poplicola, consul in 36 BC, was a man of dubious reputation and loyalty, having been accused of committing incest with his stepmother. After the death of Caesar, Gellius took the side of the republicans, but joined conspiracies against both Brutus and Cassius. Twice pardoned, he then switched sides and supported the triumvirs. He probably died in the Battle of Actium.
Gellius Poplicola, perhaps a brother of the consul of 72 BC, was a stepson of Lucius Marcius Philippus, consul in 91 BC, and brother of Lucius Marcius Philippus, consul in 56. He spent his life in dissipation, and was an intimate of Publius Clodius Pulcher, thus earning the harshest disapproval of Cicero.
