The gens Justinia was an obscureplebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens are mentioned in ancient writers, but several are known from inscriptions, chiefly from Gaul and Germania.
Origin
The root of the nomenJustinius is the cognomenJustus, referring to someone known for being "just" or "fair". This was one of a large class of surnames derived from the character of an individual. From the surname arose both Justinus, a diminutive cognomen, and the nomen Justius. Justinius must have been formed from one of these two, using the gentile-forming suffix , which could form new gentilicia from either nomina or cognomina.
Praenomina
The only praenomina associated with the Justinii appearing in inscriptions are Marcus, Gaius, and Tiberius, of which the first two were very common at all periods of Roman history, while Tiberius was favoured by a smaller range of families.
Justinius, made an offering to the local goddess near the present site of Pesch, near Bad Münstereifel, formerly part of Germania Inferior, in the latter half of the second century, or the first half of the third.
Marcus Justinius Marcellus, an infant buried at Lugdunum in Gallia Lugdunensis, aged one year, forty-seven days, with a monument from his parents, Marcus Justinius Secundus and Primania Marcellina.
Justinius Mercurialis, made an offering to the local Genius at Suromagus in Gallia Belgica.
Justinia Paterna, dedicated a tomb for Firminus, perhaps her hussband, at the present site of Rheder, formerly part of Germania Inferior, between AD 170 and 230.
Marcus Justinius Secundus, along with his wife, Primania Marcella, built a tomb at Lugdunum for their infant son, Marcus Justinius Marcellus.
Tiberius Justinius Titianus, a beneficarius, an administrative officer in the Legio XXII Primigenia, who along with Servandia Augusta, perhaps his wife, made an offering to Mercury at Mogontiacum in AD 210. Titianus made another offering to Epona and the Genius of the Leuci at Nasium in Gallia Belgica.
Justinia Ursa, together with her husband, Aulus Valerius Verus, made an offering to the Matronae Aufaniae at the present site of Kommern, formerly part of Germania Inferior.
Justinia Valeria, together with her son, Camullius Onesimus, dedicated a tomb at Vasio in Gallia Narbonensis to her husband, Titus Camullius Telesphorus.
Justinius Victorinus, buried at Aquileia in Venetia and Histria, in a tomb dedicated by his wife, Flavia Marcella, dating between AD 250 and 350.
Justinia Villana, buried at Colonia in Germania Inferior, with a monument from her husband, Titus Sentius Ursio.
