Secundinia gens


The gens Secundinia was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens are mentioned by ancient writers, but a number are known from inscriptions, dating entirely or almost entirely from imperial times, and concentrated in Gaul, Germania, Noricum, and adjacent areas.

Origin

The nomen Secundinius belongs to a class of gentilicia formed from other names using the suffix , indicating that it was derived either from the cognomen Secundinus, or from the nomen Secundius. Both of these in turn derive from Secundus, a name originally given to a second son or second child; Secundinus is a diminutive form. Secundus may originally have been a praenomen, like similar names such as Quintus, Sextus, and Decimus, but in the time of the Republic the masculine form is only encountered as a surname.

Praenomina

The main praenomina of the Secundinii were Gaius and Lucius, two of the most common names at every period of Roman history. Only a few examples of other praenomina are found in the inscriptions of this gens, many of which lack praenomina. Also found are Marcus and Sextus, which were common, and Postumus, which was relatively scarce as a praenomen, although common as a surname under the Empire.

Members