Praecilia gens


The gens Praecilia or Precilia, also written as Praecillia or Precillia, 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 Praecilius belongs to a class of gentilicia typically derived from cognomina ending in the diminutive suffix -ulus. The root might be praeco, a crier or herald, belonging to a common type of surname derived from offices and occupations.

Praenomina

By far the most abundant praenomen among the Praecilii was Lucius, accounting for more than half of all the individuals known from inscriptions. They also made regular use of Titus, Gaius, Publius, Quintus, and Marcus, all of which were very common throughout Roman history. The only other praenomen found among the Praecilii is Sextus, found in a filiation.

Members