Numeria (gens)


The gens Numeria was a minor plebeian family at Rome. Few of its members held any of the higher offices of the Roman state.

Origin

As a nomen, Numerius is comparatively scarce relative to the praenomen Numerius, from which it is derived. Numerius was not a particularly common praenomen, and is widely believed to have been of Sabine or Oscan origin, although despite its scarcity it was widely diffused among the Roman plebeians, and even received limited use by a few patrician families. According to Varro, there was a goddess Numeria, to whom women prayed during childbirth. She was mentioned in the ancient prayers recited by the Pontifex Maximus, and Varro writes that the praenomen Numerius was given to children who were born quickly. As with other gentilicia that share a form with praenomina and cognomina, it is often difficult to determine whether persons named Numerius bore it as a praenomen, nomen, or cognomen.

Praenomina

The Numerii seem to have used a relatively restricted number of praenomina. From extant records and inscriptions, they used primarily Gaius, Marcus, and Publius. A few Numerii are known to have borne different praenomina, including Quintus, Lucius, and Gnaeus. All of these were very common throughout Roman history.

Members