Orfia (gens)


The gens Orfia was a minor plebeian family at Rome. Few members of this gens are mentioned by ancient writers, but others are known from inscriptions. The best-known may be Marcus Orfius, a military tribune who served under the command of Caesar.

Origin

Chase regards the nomen Orfius as the Oscan cognate of the Latin name Orbius, which is derived from the cognomen Orbus, meaning a waif or orphan. He suggests Orfa as the Oscan equivalent of Orbus. An Oscan origin for the family would seem to be supported by the fact that Marcus Orfius was a native of Atella in Campania. The same root would seem to have given rise to the surname Orfitus, found in a number of families, notably the Salvidieni and Cornelii, in imperial times, and to the nomen Orfidius, formed either directly from the cognomen, or perhaps from Orfius using the suffix -idius, sometimes used to form new gentilicia from existing names.

Praenomina

Most of the Orfii used only the most common praenomina, including Gaius, Lucius, and Marcus. There are a few instances of other common praenomina, including Titus, Quintus, and Gnaeus, as well as one instance of Vibius, an much less common name, frequently associated with families of Sabine or Oscan origin.

Members