The gens Ignia was an obscureplebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens appear in history, but a number are known from inscriptions.
Origin
The nomenIgnius is derived from ignis, fire, and belongs to a large class of gentilicia derived from the names of ordinary objects, although as is often the case, one cannot determine from the name whether the original bearer was so called because he was vigorous, temperamental, had red hair, or resembled fire in some other respect. Although a great number of Ignii appear in inscriptions from Gaul, several come from the towns of Beneventum and Aeclanum in Samnium, indicating that the Ignii were likely descended from the Samnites, or perhaps from Latin colonists in the region.
Praenomina
The main praenomina of the Ignii were Aulus, Quintus, Lucius, and Gaius, all of which were common throughout Roman history. Aulus is found among the Ignii in Samnium; elsewhere they relied on Quintus, Lucius, and Gaius, although there is an instance of Sextus from Gallia Narbonensis.
Members
Ignia, named in a fragmentary inscription from Rome.
Ignius Sex. l. Catulus, a freedman buried at Narbo in Gallia Narbonensis.
Lucius Ignius Charito, together with Claudianus Dulcitius, dedicated a monument at Lugdunum to their brother-in-law, Aufidius Militaris, aged twenty-two.
Ignia L. l. Clymene, a freedwoman buried in a sepulchre at Rome, along with several freedmen and freedwomen, including Lucius Ignius Theseus.
Aula Ignia A. f. Crispina, buried at Aeclanum in Samnium, along with her sister, Theia Justina, in a tomb dedicated by their parents, Aulus Ignius Crispinus and Theia Justina, and Gaius Trebatius, apparently a half-brother or uncle.
Aulus Ignius Crispinus, together with his wife, Theia Justina, and Gaius Trebatius, perhaps a stepson or brother-in-law, dedicated a tomb at Aeclanum for his daughters, Aula Ignia Crispina and Theia Justina.
Aulus Ignius A. l. Epicadus, a freedman buried at Beneventum in Samnium during the first century, along with his fellow freedmen, Aulus Ignius Segalus and Liconia Fausta.
Quintus Ignius Epictetus, buried at Arelate in Gallia Narbonensis, in a tomb dedicated by his heirs.
Aulus Ignius Felix, together with his wife, Domitia Quintilla, dedicated a tomb at Beneventum for their foster son, whose name has not been preserved, aged fourteen years, nine months, and two days.
Lucius Ignius L. l. Firmius, a freedman buried at Narbo.
Lucius Ignius Firmus, named in an inscription from Nemausus in Gallia Narbonensis.
Ignia Helpis, a freedwoman who dedicated a tomb at Lugdunum to Quintus Ignius Silvinus, who had been freed along with her, and served as one of the Seviri Augustales at Lugdunum.
Ignia Helpis, buried at Narbo, together with her husband, Quintus Ignius Merops.
Quintus Ignius Merops, buried at Narbo, together with his wife, Ignia Helpis.
Quintus Ignius C. l. Pullo, a freedman buried at Narbo, with a monument from his client, the freedwoman Urisca.
Ignia Salvia, a freedwoman named in a sepulchral inscription from Rome.
Aulus Ignius A. l. Segalus, a freedman buried at Beneventum during the first century, along with his fellow freedmen, Aulus Ignius Epicadus and Liconia Fausta.
Quintus Ignius Silvinus, a freedman, was one of the Seviri Augustales at Lugdunum, where he was buried in a tomb dedicated by Ignia Helpis, who had been freed along with him.
