GREX

 H. P. GRICE E J. L. SPERANZA -- GREX -- VERBALIA: VARINIO The gens Varinia was a minor plebeian family of ancient Rome. Only a few members of this gens are mentioned by Roman writers, including Publius Varinius Glaber, praetor in 73 BC, and perhaps a second time in 66, but many others are known from inscriptions. Beginning in the first century, a number of Varinii appear in inscriptions from Philippi in Macedonia. Another family of Varinii settled in Hispania Baetica.  Origin The nomen Varinius belongs to a class of gentilicia formed from cognomina ending in the diminutive or derivative suffix -inus.[1] Varinus would have been an elaboration of the cognomen Varus, "knock-kneed".[2]  Praenomina The main praenomina of the Varinii were Marcus, Quintus, and Gaius, all of which were amongst the most common names at all periods of Roman history. Other praenomina appearing amongst the Varinii include Gnaeus, Lucius, Publius, and Tiberius.  Members This list includes abbrev...

 H. P. GRICE E J. L. SPERANZA -- GREX -- VERBALIA: VARISIDIO The gens Varisidia, occasionally written Varesidia, was an obscure plebeian family of ancient Rome. Hardly any members of this gens are mentioned by Roman writers, but a number are known from inscriptions.  Origin The nomen Varisidius belongs to a class of gentilicia formed using the suffix -idius, originally formed from adjectives or cognomina ending in -idus,[1] in which case the root would probably have been Varisidus. But like a number of other formations, -idius came to be regarded as a regular gentile-forming suffix, and was used without respect to morphology,[1] in which case the root may be a name such as Varus, "knock-kneed".[2] Several early Varisidii came from towns in Umbria, which may be the family's place of origin.  Praenomina Most of the Varisidii bear extremely common praenomina, including Gaius, Lucius, Marcus, Publius, and Quintus. Besides these, an inscription from Urvinum Mataurense in Umbri...

 H. P. GRICE E J. L. SPERANZA -- GREX -- VERBALIA: VATINIO The gens Vatinia, also spelled Vatiena or Vaciena, was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. The best-known member of this gens was Publius Vatinius, one of Caesar's allies, who attained the consulship in 47 BC.[1]  Origin The nomen Vatinius belongs to a class of gentilicia formed from cognomina ending in -inus.[2] The form Vatienus may represent a separate gens derived from Vatinius, as the ending -enus is typical of gentilicia formed from other nomina,[3] although in some instances the names may have become confused. The etymology of these names is uncertain, but they might be connected with the surname Vatius, originally referring to someone with bow-legs.[2]  Members Publius Vatienus, a native of Reate, claimed in 168 BC, during the Third Macedonian War, that as he was returning to Rome by night, he was approached by the Dioscuri, who told him that Perseus of Macedon had been captured. Though at first impri...

 H. P. GRICE E J. L. SPERANZA -- GREX -- VERBALIA: VATRONIO The gens Vatronia was an obscure plebeian family of ancient Rome. No members of this gens are mentioned by Roman writers, but a number are known from inscriptions.  Origin The earliest inscriptions mentioning the Vatronii all came from Praeneste in Latium, where members of this gens appear to have been prominent citizens. The nomen Vatronius belongs to a large class of gentilicia ending in -onius. Most of these were formed from cognomina ending in -o or -onis, but once names of this type had become common, -onius came to be regarded as a regular gentile-forming suffix, and was sometimes applied without any morphological justification. At the same time, many surnames of this type had alternative forms with differing stems.[1] Here the root is Vatrax, a cognomen originally referring to someone with crooked feet.[2] Surnames derived from the physical peculiarities of individuals were quite common.[3]  Praenomina The...

 H. P. GRICE E J. L. SPERANZA -- GREX -- VERBALIA: VECILIO The gens Vecilia, occasionally written Vecillia, was an obscure plebeian family of ancient Rome. No members of this gens are mentioned by Roman writers, but a number are known from inscriptions. Some of the Vecilii were local officials or attained minor magistracies, but none of them attained any of the higher offices of the Roman state.  Origin The nomen Vecilius belongs to a large class of gentilicia formed using the suffix -ilius, typically formed from cognomina ending in the diminutive suffix -ulus, or using -illius or -ellius from surnames ending in the double diminutive -illus or -ellus.[1] Vecilius seems to belong to the first group, although gentilicia written either with a single or double l can be difficult to distinguish.[2] There was a mountain in Latium known as Mons Vecilius, which could supply the origin of this nomen, but from the occurrence of the filiation Vo. f. in an inscription from Falerii, Chase ...

 H. P. GRICE E J. L. SPERANZA -- GREX -- VERBALIA: VEDIO The gens Vedia was a minor plebeian family of equestrian rank at ancient Rome. Only a few members of this gens are mentioned by Roman writers.  Members This list includes abbreviated praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see filiation. Publius Vedius, a close friend of Pompeius, whom Cicero describes as an extravagant fool and a rascal. While he was meeting with Cicero, his baggage left with his host, Pompeius Vindullus, at Laodicea, Vindullus died, and Gaius Vennonius, securing the estate, discovered compromising portraits in Vedius' belongings.[1][2] Vedius Rufus, the son of a freedman, attained equestrian status, and held public office, rising as far as military tribune. Horace's fourth epode is thought to have been inspired by him.[3] Publius Vedius P. f. Pollio, the son of a freedman, was an immensely wealthy eques, and a friend of Augustus. Known for his cruelty, he incurred the emperor's wrath by ord...

 H. P. GRICE E J. L. SPERANZA -- GREX -- VERBALIA: VELIO The gens Velia was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in the latter part of the first century AD. The first of the Velii to obtain the consulship was Decimus Velius Fidus in AD 144.  Origin The Velii share their nomen with the Velian Hill, a spur of the Palatine in the heart of Rome, and also with the town of Velia in Lucania. Since the Velii are not mentioned until imperial times, they may have come from and taken their name from the town, which received the Roman franchise under the lex Julia of 90 BC.[1]  Branches and cognomina The only distinct family of the Velii bore the cognomen Rufus, "red", one of a large class of surnames deriving from a person's physical appearance. This cognomen would probably have been given to an ancestor of the Velii who had red hair.[2] The other cognomina borne by the Velii appear to have been personal surnames, including Celer, swift, ...