Minucia (gens) - Branches and Cognomina of The Gens

Branches and Cognomina of The Gens

The oldest branch of the family, the Minucii Augurini, were originally patrician, but in 439 BC. Lucius Minucius Augurinus went over to the plebeians, and was elected tribune of the plebs. His descendants included the consul of 305 BC and several later tribunes of the plebs. The surname was derived from the position of augur, an important priest specializing in divination. The college of augurs was held in high esteem, and membership was restricted to the patricians until 300 BC.

Some of the early Augurini bore the additional cognomen Esquilinus, presumably because they lived on the Esquiline Hill. Later surnames of the gens included Rufus, Thermus, and Basilus. The Minucii Rufi and Thermi appear from the latter part of the 3rd century BC until the second half of the 1st century AD. Rufus means "red" and probably originally referred to someone with red hair. Thermus might refer to a bath or hot springs. The Minucii Basili appear only in the final century of the Republic. Their surname is derived from basileus, the Greek word for "king." A number of plebeian Minucii had no cognomen.