Papinia (gens)


The gens Papinia was a plebeian family at Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned toward the end of the Republic. In imperial times, the family achieved some prominence, with Sextus Papinius Alienus holding the consulship in AD 36. The nomen Papinius is sometimes confused with the more common Papirius and Pomponius.

Origin

Papinius appears to belong to a class of nomina derived from other names using the gentile-forming suffix -inius. In this instance, the name seems to be derived from the Oscan nomen Papius, or its root, the cognomen Papus, indicating that the Papinii were probably of Sabine or Samnite extraction.

Members