Publilia gens

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The Publilia (Pūblilia) gens was a plebeian Roman family that first appears in the early Republic. In 471 BC, Volero Publilius, a tribune of the plebs, pushed the lex Publilia, a law that gave the plebeians more political power and curbed patrician influence. The Publilii appear again over the Republic, but they faded after the Samnite Wars and never again held high office. The name Publilius comes from the praenomen Publius, though people often confuse it with Publius. They used praenomina such as Volero, Lucius, Quintus, Gaius, and Titus, with Volero being unique to this family. The Republic’s Publilii had one main branch with the cognomen Philo (Greek for “to love”). One member carried the surname Volscus, indicating a connection with the Volsci.