Quartinia gens


The gens Quartinia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Few members of this gens are mentioned in history, but a number are known from inscriptions.

Origin

The nomen Quartinius belongs to a class of gentilicia formed from other names, typically ending in -inus, suggesting the cognomen Quartinus, a diminutive of Quartus, fourth. Quartus may have been an old praenomen that had fallen out of use by historical times, but continued in use as a cognomen. The feminine form, Quarta, was regularly used as both praenomen and cognomen.
The greater number of Quartinii are known from inscriptions from various parts of Gaul, and other northern provinces, suggesting that the family was of Gallic origin. At least two of them were associated with the temple of Mithras at Virunum in Noricum, one in the late second century, the other early in the fourth, indicating the family's long residence there.

Praenomina

The only praenomina associated with the Quartinii are Lucius, Marcus, and Titus, all of which were among the most common names throughout Roman history.

Members