The gens Caninia was a
plebeian family at
ancient Rome during the later
Republic. The first member of the
gens who obtained any of the curule offices was Gaius Caninius Rebilus,
praetor in 171 BC; but the first Caninius who was
consul was his namesake,
Gaius Caninius Rebilus, in 45 BC.[1]
Origin
The
nomenCaninius may be connected with the
Latin adjective canus or kanus, meaning "white" or "grey", perhaps referring to the color of a person's hair. It might also be derived from the adjective caninus, meaning "hound-like", "snarling".[2]
Praenomina
The principal names of the Caninii were Gaius,
Lucius, and Marcus, which were also the three most common
praenomina throughout Roman history. At least one of the family bore the praenomen
Aulus.[3]
Branches and cognomina
The chief families of the Caninii bore the
cognominaGallus and Rebilus. The surname Satrius is also found, and there was a Caninius Sallustius, who was adopted by some member of this gens. Gallus was a common surname, which may refer to a
Gaul, or to a
cock.[4][5][6]
Members
This list includes abbreviated
praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see
filiation.
Caninii Rebili
Gaius Caninius Rebilus,
praetor in 171 BC, obtained
Sicily as his province.[7]
Gaius Caninius Rebilus, consul in AD 37, and likely son of the consul suffectus of 12 BC.[10]
Caninius Rebilus, a man of consular rank and great wealth, but bad character;
Julius Graecinus refused to accept a gift of money from him on account of his character. He is probably the same person who put an end to his life under the emperor
Nero, whose name was evidently corrupted into C. Aminius Rebius.[11][12]
Lucius Caninius Gallus, a Roman senator during the time of Tiberius, served as curator of the banks and channels of the Tiber. [17]
Others
Aulus Caninius Satrius, mentioned by Cicero in 65 BC.[18]
Caninius Sallustius,
quaestor of
Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus, the
proconsul of
Syria; one of Cicero's letters is addressed to him. He may have been adopted into the Caninia gens, or possibly his name is corrupt, and should read C. Annius Sallustius or Cn. Sallustius.[19][20]
Caius Caninius Onesimus was a veteran of the
Praetorian Guard (cohortis VIII praetoriae), lived 63 years and 8 months. Died in
Como.[17]
Titus Caninius, son of Sergius Maximus, was a veteran of the
Praetorian Guard (cohortis VI praetoriae), died in Corinium (Gornji Karin),
Dalmatia.[17]
Lucius Caninius Publius, son of Valentius and father of Caius, was procurator of public works (procuratori operum publicorum) in the
province of Africa and died in
Roccaverano in
Regio IX Liguria.[17]
Caius Caninius Germanus, veteran and centurion of the
classis Ravennas died at the age of 90 in
Calenzana, Corsica.[17]
Caninia Longa, a Jewish woman of the early first century.[21]