The gens Numeria was a minorplebeian family at Rome. Few of its members held any of the higher offices of the Roman state.
Origin
As a nomen, Numerius is comparatively scarce relative to the praenomenNumerius, from which it is derived. Numerius was not a particularly common praenomen, and is widely believed to have been of Sabine or Oscan origin, although despite its scarcity it was widely diffused among the Roman plebeians, and even received limited use by a few patrician families. According to Varro, there was a goddess Numeria, to whom women prayed during childbirth. She was mentioned in the ancient prayers recited by the Pontifex Maximus, and Varro writes that the praenomen Numerius was given to children who were born quickly. As with other gentilicia that share a form with praenomina and cognomina, it is often difficult to determine whether persons named Numerius bore it as a praenomen, nomen, or cognomen.
Praenomina
The Numerii seem to have used a relatively restricted number of praenomina. From extant records and inscriptions, they used primarily Gaius, Marcus, and Publius. A few Numerii are known to have borne different praenomina, including Quintus, Lucius, and Gnaeus. All of these were very common throughout Roman history.
Members
Numerius, a friend of Marius, who lent him a ship at Ostia, when the general fled Rome after being proscribed by Sulla in 88 BC. There is some uncertainty as to whether Numerius was his nomen, or his praenomen.
Numerius Numestius, a friend of Atticus, who recommended Numestius to Cicero.
Quintus Numerius Rufus, tribune of the plebs in 57 BC, opposed the recall of Cicero from exile. Cicero thought that Numerius, whom he derisively refers to as Gracchus, had been bribed by his enemies, and states that they considered murdering Numerius in order to place the orator's friends under suspicion.
Gaius Numerius C. f. Major, son of the Decurion, who erected a monument in honour of his father.
Gaius Numerius, the former master of Agathemerus and Epaphroditus; his wife may have been named Licinia, since her freedwoman was named Licinia Pithane.
Gaius Numerius C. l. Agathemerus, a freedman of Gaius Numerius and his wife, mentioned in an inscription from Rome.
Gaius Numerius C. l. Epaphroditus, a freedman of Gaius Numerius and his wife, mentioned in an inscription from Rome, together with Epaphroditus' wife, Licinia Pithane, freedwoman of Gaius Numerius' wife.
Gnaeus Numerius Cn. f. Felix, freedman of Gnaeus Numerius Fronto, also buried at Altinum.
Marcus Numerius Martialis, one of the heirs of Helvia Valeria, buried at Nemausus in Gallia Narbonensis.
Marcus Numerius Maximinus, the husband of Maximia Nigella, buried at Nemausus.
Publius Numerius Martialis Astigitanus, a native and municipal official of Astigi in Hispania Baetica, named in connection with a transaction for one hundred pounds of silver, and as a donor to the public works.
Publius Numerius Achilles Astigitanus, perhaps a freedman, buried at Astigi, aged ninety-eight.
