The gens Umbria, occasionally written Umbreia, was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Only a few members of this gens are mentioned by Roman writers, but a number are known from inscriptions. Marcus Umbrius Primus was the first to attain the consulship, in the time of Commodus.
Origin The nomen Umbrius is derived from the cognomen Umber, referring to an inhabitant of Umbria.Chase, p. 114. While this implies that the ancestors of the Umbrii came from Umbria, the largest number of inscriptions from this gens are from Samnium. Alongside Umbrius is found Umbreius. As a gentile-forming suffix, was common among nomina of Oscan origin, and was regarded as equivalent to the Latin , which in some cases replaced it.Chase, p. 120. Thus, Umbrius might have been assumed by someone whose ancestors came from Umbria, and settled in the Oscan-speaking parts of central and southern Italy.
Praenomina The main praenomina of the Umbrii were Gaius, Marcus, Lucius, and Publius, four of the most common names at all periods of Roman history, which they sometimes supplemented with Titus or Gnaeus, also common names. A few of the Umbrii bear other names, including Quintus and Sextus. This gens also provides an instance of the feminine praenomen Maxima.
Branches and cognomina The only distinctly hereditary cognomen of this gens is Primus, "first",Chase, pp. 111. which appears as the surname of Umbrius Primus, a wealthy farmer in Samnium at the beginning of the second century. He may have been an ancestor of Marcus Umbrius Primus, the first of this family to attain the consulship, around AD 185. Several other members of this family can be glimpsed over the following century, including the consuls Marcus Nummius Umbrius Primus Senecio Albinus, in 206, and another Marcus Umbrius Primus in 289.
A number of Umbrii settled in Roman North Africa, where they appear in inscriptions from the second century onward. Several of these bore the surname Felix, meaning "happy" or "fortunate";Cassell's Latin and English Dictionary, s.v. felix. some of this family used related cognomina, such as Felicitas, "happiness", or Fortunatus.Cassell's Latin and English Dictionary, s.vv. felicitas, fortunatus.
Members
Gaius Umbrius T. f., buried in a first-century BC tomb at Luna in Etruria.. Marcus Umbreius M. l. Isidorus, a freedman buried at Rome, along with several other freedmen, in a sepulchre dating from the latter half of the first century BC, belonging to Lucius Cornelius Heracleo, himself a freedman and priest, and his wife, the freedwoman Oscunia Italia.. Umbreia Auge, named along with Valeria Arescusa in an inscription from Rome, dating from the first half of the first century.. Umbreia L. l. Utilis, a freedwoman, dedicated a sepulchre at Puteoli in Campania, dating from the early or middle first century, for herself, her tutor, or guardian, Marcus Heius Dionysius, Gaius Marc[...] Rutilio, and Callistus, likely all freedmen.. Umbria, the mistress of Protogenes, a slave who made a first-century offering to Silvanus at Aufidena in Samnium.. Umbria Felicula, buried in a first-century tomb at Aeclanum in Samnium, along with Gaius Umbrius Silvanus, perhaps her husband.. Publius Umbrius Licinus, buried at Bononia in Cisalpine Gaul, in a first-century tomb dedicated by his freedman, Hilarus, one of the Seviri Augustales.. Gaius Umbreius C. f. Rufus, named in a first-century sepulchral inscription from Gallia Narbonensis.Sartori and Zoia, Pietre che vivono, 377. Gaius Umbrius Silvanus, buried in a first-century tomb at Aeclanum, along with Umbria Felicula, perhaps his wife. Umbreia M. l. Stactes, a freedwoman buried in a first-century tomb at Rome.. Umbria M. f. Tertulla, buried in a family sepulchre at Bergomum in Gallia Narbonensis, dating from the latter half of the first century, and built by her husband, Gaius Pupius Tiro, for himself, Tertulla, their children, Gaius Pupius Candidus and Marcus Pupius Casto, and Tiro's mother, Alicia Justa.. Gnaeus Umbrius Cn. f. Clemens, buried at Aletrium in Latium, in a tomb dedicated by his sons, Gnaeus Umbrius Rufinus and Gnaeus Umbrius Quintilianus, dating between the middle of the first and the early second century.. Gnaeus Umbrius Cn. f. Cn. n. Quintilianus, along with his brother, Gnaeus Umbrius Rufinus, dedicated a tomb at Aletrium, dating between the middle first and early second century, for their father, Gnaeus Umbrius Clemens. Gnaeus Umbrius Cn. f. Cn. n. Rufinus, along with his brother, Gnaeus Umbrius Quintilianus, dedicated a tomb at Aletrium, dating between the middle first and early second century, for their father, Gnaeus Umbrius Clemens. Umbria Mansueta, buried along with her husband, Gaius Trisimpedius Cogitatus, in a first- or second-century family sepulchre at Suasa in Umbria, built by their children, Trisimpedius Aper, Justus Pudens, and Prudens.. Umbrius Primus, the owner of several estates in Samnium that produced income to support the children of the Ligures Baebiani in AD 101.. Sextus Umbrius P. f. Quintianus, buried in an early second-century tomb at Saldae in Mauretania Caesariensis, aged twenty-nine.. Gaius Umbrius, procurator Augusti in Syria during the reign of Hadrian.. Umbrius Justinus, named in an inscription from Glemona in Venetia and Histria, dating from the first half of the second century.. Gaius Umbrius Euphiletus, made a second-century offering to Jupiter Optimus Maximus at Pagus Veianus in Samnium.. Gaius Umbrius Felix, dedicated a second-century tomb at Beneventum for his wife, Umbria Romana.NSA, 2008/09, 354,18. Umbria Romana, buried at Beneventum in a second-century tomb dedicated by her husband, Gaius Umbrius Felix. Umbria Sabina, buried at Aufidena in Samnium, in a tomb dating from the middle part of the second century.. Umbria C. f. Albina, a wealthy woman whose name appears on a water pipe from Rome, made by Lucius Fabius Gallus, and dating from the latter half of the second century. Her name also appears on clay tiles from Aufidena. She was probably related to the consul Marcus Nummius Umbrius Primus Senecio Albinus.–c, .PIR, vol. III, p. 468 (V, No. 598). Titus Umbrius Faustus, together with his wife, Modia Hegemonis, dedicated a tomb at Ostia in Latium, dating from the second century or the first half of the third, for their daughter, Aphrodisia, aged seven years, seven months.. Umbrius Adventus, built a late second-century tomb at Theveste in Africa Proconsularis for his mother, Umbria Victorina.. Umbria Victorina, buried in a late second-century tomb at Theveste, aged thirty-five, with a monument from her son, Umbrius Adventus. Marcus Umbrius Primus, a native of Compsa in Samnium, was governor of Lycia and Pamphylia, then consul suffectus about AD 185 or 186. About 201 or 202, he was appointed governor of Africa. He is probably the same Umbrius Primus who died before returning from his province, leaving his house to the senator Claudius Hieronymianus. He was probably either the natural or adoptive father of Marcus Nummius Umbrius Primus Senecio Albinus, and was a patron of the colony of Beneventum in Samnium.PIR, vol. III, p. 468 (V, No. 596).Leunissen, "Direct Promotions from Proconsul to Consul", p. 229.Mennen, Power and Status in the Roman Empire, pp. 112–115. Gnaeus Umbrius Primus, built a second- or third-century temple at Aeclanum for Allia Repentina, his wife of fourteen years.. Gaius Umbrius Abascantus, buried at Beneventum in a tomb built by Servilia, his wife of thirty-five years, dating from the latter half of the second century, or the first half of the third.. Gaius Umbrius C. f. Eudrastus, a patron of the colony of Beneventum, by which he was honored with an inscription dating from the latter half of the second century, or the first half of the third.. Quintus Umbrius, dedicated a tomb at Narona in Dalmatia for Gaius Statius Verecundus, dating between the middle of the second century, and the early third.. Titus Flavius Umbrius Antistius Saturninus Fortunatianus, a senator buried in a late second- or early third-century tomb at Hadrumetum in Africa Proconsularis, with a monument from his client, Aemilius M[...]esis.. Umbrius I[...]ato, built a tomb at Luceria in Apulia, dating from the late second or early third century, for Aurelia Feli[...], his wife of thirty-two years.. Umbria Matronica, a priestess of Ceres, buried in a late second- or early third-century tomb at Cirta in Numidia, aged one hundred and fifteen, having faithfully served the goddess for eighty years. A Marcus Mundicius Saturninus buried in the same place, aged ninety-five, may have been her husband..Hemelrijk, Hidden Lives, Public Personae, pp. 59 (note 82), 83 (and note 156), 87, 95, 99 (and note 207), 104 (and note 219), 382. Publiius Umbrius Saturninus, built a tomb at Narona for Septimia Lupula, out of the legacy left by her mother, Septimia Ursina, dating from the late second or early third century.. Umbria Africana, buried at the site of modern Călan, formerly part of Dacia, aged sixty-five, with a monument from her son, Umbrius Villanus, dating between the middle of the second century and the late third.. Umbrius Felix, named in an inscription from Lambaesis in Numidia, dating from AD 200.. Umbrius Villanus, dedicated a tomb at the site of modern Călan for his mother, Umbria Africana, dating between the middle of the second century and the late third. Umbria Maxima, dedicated a tomb at Salona in Dalmatia, dating between the middle of the second century and the end of the third, for her mother, Aelia Ursina.. Marcus Nummius Umbrius Primus M. f. Senecio Albinus, consul in AD 206, then governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, Dalmatia, and perhaps Asia. He was the father of Marcus Nummius Senecio Albinus, consul in AD 227., .. Umbrius Victor, a duplicarius, or soldier entitled to double pay or rations, serving in the Legio III Augusta at Lambaesis, during the reign of Elagabalus.. Gaius Umbrius Apolaustus, a decurion and quaestor, buried at Beneventum, in a tomb dating between AD 200 and 260, built by his son, Gaius Umbrius Rufinus, and brother, Titus Cominius Felicissimus.. Gaius Umbrius C. f. Rufinus, along with Titus Cominius Felicissimus, built a tomb at Beneventum for his father, Gaius Umbrius Apolaustus, dating between AD 200 and 260. Gaius Umbrius Servilius Justus, great-great-grandson of Justissimus, a decurion of Beneventum, was buried at Beneventum, aged thirty, in a tomb dedicated by his mother, Servilia Varia, dating between AD 220 and 240.. Umbrius Lu[...], buried at Narona, aged thirty-two, in a third-century tomb built by his wife, Quieta.Inscriptiones Latinae quae in Iugoslavia, iii. 1894. Umbrius Secundus, together with Umbrius Sedatus, built a third-century tomb at Rome for their brother, the soldier Umbrius Valerianus.. Umbrius Sedatus, a signifer, or standard-bearer, in an uncertain military unit, together with Umbrius Secundus, built a third-century tomb at Rome for their brother, the soldier Umbrius Valerianus. Umbrius Valerianus, a beneficarius, a soldier assigned special duties, who served in a cavalry unit in Mauretania Caesariensis, was buried at Rome, aged thirty-six, in a third-century tomb built by his brothers, Umbrius Sedatus and Umbrius Secundus. Umbrius Hermes, the freedman and client of Umbrius Successus, along with his collibertus, Umbrius Silvanus, dedicated a tomb at Tuficum in Umbria, dating from the third century, or the first half of the fourth, for their patron and former master.. Umbrius Silvanus, the freedman and client of Umbrius Successus, along with his collibertus, Umbrius Hermes, dedicated a tomb at Tuficum, dating from the third century, or the first half of the fourth, for their patron and former master. Umbrius Successus, the patron and former master of Umbrius Hermes and Umbrius Silvanus, who built a tomb for him at Tuficum, dating from the third century, or the first half of the fourth.