Quintilius is a variant spelling of the Latin family name Quinctilius, which belonged to the ancient Roman patrician gens Quinctilia (also written Quintilia). The nomen is a patronymic surname derived from the common praenomen Quintus, meaning "fifth" in Latin. The root Quintus, originally spelled Quinctus, was given to a fifth child or a child born in the fifth month. The double form Quinctilius/Quintilius reflects a fluctuation in Latin orthography, with the latter becoming common in imperial times.
Etymology and Historical Context
The gens Quinctilia claimed descent from the earliest period of the Roman Republic, yet its members held the consulship only once during the Republic: Sextus Quinctilius in 453 BC. The family otherwise produced praetors and other magistrates, but never again reached the highest office for over four centuries. The nomen is one of several derived from the same root as Quintus; another is Quinctia. Similarly, the Sabine name Pompo, equivalent to Quintus in Oscan, gave rise to the gentes Pompilia and Pomponia.
Notable bearers of the name Quintilius include Publius Quintilius Varus, a Roman general famously defeated in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest (9 AD). His full name is sometimes spelled with one 'i' — Quintilius — rather than Quinctilius, illustrating the interchangeable usage.
- Meaning: "fifth" in Latin
- Origin: Roman, derived from the praenomen Quintus
- Type: Patronymic family name (nomen), also used as a given name
- Usage regions: Ancient Rome
Sources: Wikipedia — Quinctilia gens