Aemilius

Aemilius is a Latin nomen associated with the gens Aemilia, one of the oldest patrician families in Rome that later produced plebeian branches. The feminine form is Aemilia. The name derives from the Latin adjective aemulus, meaning rival or emulous, reflecting a tradition of emulation or striving.

Historically, the Aemilii were influential in the early Republic and continued to hold high office as the Republic progressed into the late Republic and into the Imperial era. The family gave rise to several notable branches, including the Aemilii Paulli, Scauri, Lepidi, and Regilli, each producing consuls and other magistrates across centuries. Cognomina such as Paullus, Scaurus, Lepidus, and Regillus accompanied members of the gens in various offices and military commands.

Notable bearers include Quintus Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus, the consul and general credited with the Roman victory over Macedon at the battle of Pydna in 168 BCE; Marcus Aemilius Scaurus, a prominent statesman who served as consul and as princeps senatus in the late 2nd century BCE; and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, a leading political figure of the late Republic and a member of the Second Triumvirate. The name continued to appear in later periods among Roman magistrates and provincial holders.

In modern usage, Aemilius and its variants appear as given names or surnames in Romance-language contexts, reflecting the lasting legacy of the ancient Roman nomen.