Saria gens


The gens Saria was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens attained any of the higher offices of the Roman state, but several are known from inscriptions.

Origin

The origin of the nomen Sarius is unclear, but seems to be the source of another gentilicium, Sariolenus, perhaps through a diminutive, Sariolus. The suffix -enus typically indicates nomina formed from other gentilicia.

Branches and cognomina

The only distinct family of the Sarii is known from an inscription at Corfinium in Samnium. Two of them, a father and son, bore the surname Felix, happy or fortunate, while a daughter bore a diminutive, Felicula, and a second son bore the cognomen Justinus. The latter is a derivative of Justus, just, and was apparently inherited from the mother of the family, Pontia Justina. Other surnames found among the Sarii include Celer, swift, Secundus, traditionally given to a second child, and Surus, a Syrian, perhaps indicating the origin of the freedman who bore it.

Members