Septueia gens


The gens Septueia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens are mentioned in ancient writers, but several are known from inscriptions.

Origin

The nomen Septueius belongs to a large class of gentilicia formed using the suffix , which was typical of Oscan-speaking parts of Italy. This suggests that the Septueii may have been of Sabine or Samnite origin. The root of the name might be the Oscan praenomen Seppis or Seppius, equivalent to the rare Latin praenomen Septimus, originally referring to a seventh son or seventh child. In this case, Septueius would be cognate with other gentilicia, including that of the Septimia gens.

Praenomina

With the exception of a single individual named Gaius, all of the Septueii known from inscriptions bear the praenomen Quintus, indicating that the family was relatively small, and of late origin; in imperial times it was common for all of the sons in a family to share the same praenomen, and be distinguished by their cognomina. This is especially probable if the Septueii only acquired Roman citizenship under the early Empire, or if a number of them were descended from the freedmen of an earlier Quintus Septueius.

Members