Visellia (gens)


The gens Visellia was a family at Rome during the late Republic and early Empire. Two members of this gens achieved the consulship during the first century.

Praenomina

The only praenomina associated with the Visellii appearing in history are Gaius and Lucius. Marcus, Publius, Quintus, and Titus appear in inscriptions.

Branches and cognomina

The surnames associated with the Visellii are Varro and Aculeo. The former was a hereditary cognomen of the family, while the latter appears to have been a personal surname. Varro originally designated a fool, or one given to foolishness, while Aculeo seems to be derived from the adjective aculeus, meaning "sharp, pointy, prickly," or "thorny," presumably a commentary on the acuteness of its bearer's mind, bestowed in contradiction to the family's hereditary surname.

Members