The gens Artoria was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Few members of this gens are mentioned in history, but a number are known from inscriptions. Under the later Empire at least some of them were of senatorial rank.

Origin

At least two distinct linguistic origins have been proposed for the nomen Artorius. Schulze, Herbig, and Salomies propose that the name is derived from the Etruscan praenomen Arnthur, perhaps Latinized as Artor. Other scholars have proposed a Messapic origin, identifying a nomen Artorres, "descendant of Artas", with a Messapic possessive suffix -orres, indicating filiation. Some scholars have suggested that Artorius might be the origin of the Welsh name Arthur.

Praenomina

The chief praenomina of the Artorii were Lucius, Gaius, Marcus, and Quintus, four of the most common names throughout Roman history. Lesser-used praenomina of the Artorii included Gnaeus, Sextus, and Titus, and there are a few examples of other names.

Branches and cognomina

The Artorii do not appear to have been divided into distinct families, but a number of them used common surnames, such as Secundus, typically designating a second or younger child, and its derivatives.

Members

Undated Artorii

Footnotes