The gens Norbana was a plebeian family at Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned toward the beginning of the first century BC, and from then to the end of the second century AD they filled a number of magistracies and other important posts, first in the late Republic, and subsequently under the emperors.
Origin
Because the great majority of Roman gentilicia end in -ius, many writers have supposed Norbanus to have been a cognomen, perhaps belonging to a branch of the Junia gens. In fact, it is itself a nomen gentilicium, belonging to a class of nomina derived from place-names, and ending in -anus. Such names were common in families of Umbrian origin, although less characteristic of Latin gentes. In the case of the Norbani, the name is derived from the town of Norba, in Latium. Ronald Syme suggested an Etruscan origin.
Branches and cognomina
The primary surname of the Norbani is Flaccus, a common surname that translates as "flabby" or "flap-eared". Other surnames include Balbus, a common name referring to one who stammers; this is also written as Bulbus, perhaps with an intentional change of meaning, since bulbus refers to an onion.
Members
Gaius Norbanus, possibly surnamed Balbus or Bulbus, consul in 83 BC, during the civil war between Sulla and the followers of Marius. He met Sulla in battle near Capua, and was badly defeated. After a second defeat in 82, when Norbanus was proconsul, he fled to Rhodes, but upon learning that Sulla had demanded he be turned over to him, he took his own life.
Gaius Norbaus C. f., triumvir monetalis in 83 BC, the same year as his father as consul.
Gaius Norbanus C. f. C. n. Flaccus, one of the generals under Octavian and Marcus Antonius in 42 BC, he detected a ruse on the part of Brutus and Cassius, and defended his position, setting the stage for the victory of the triumvirs at the Battle of Philippi. Flaccus was praetor in 43 and consul in 38. He minted aurei during his praetorship.
Gaius Norbanus C. f. C. n. Flaccus, consul in 24 BC, with the emperor Augustus, and afterward governor of Asia.
Gaius Norbanus C. f. C. n. Flaccus, consul in AD 15.
Lucius Norbanus C. f. C. n. Balbus Flaccus, consul in AD 19.
Norbana, the wife of Carus, a friend of Martial.
Gaius Norbanus Sorex, an actor active at Pompeii and Nemi during the time of Augustus.
Norbanus Licinianus, one of Domitian's unsavoury minions, was banished during the reign of Trajan.
