Raecia gens
The gens Raecia, also spelled Racia, was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned at the time of the Second Punic War. Marcus Raecius was praetor in 170 BC. However, after this the family fell into obscurity until imperial times. Origin. The nomen "Raecius" appears to be of Oscan origin, indicating that the Raecii were probably descended from one of the Oscan-speaking peoples of central and southern Italy, such as the Sabines or the Samnites. The nomen "Racilia" may have been derived from "Raecia", using the common diminutive suffix "". Branches  and cognomina. None of the Raecii who appear in history during the Republic bore any cognomen, but the Raecii of imperial times used a variety of common surnames. "Taurus", a bull, "Gallus", a cockerel, and "Leo", a lion, belong to a common type of cognomina derived from the names of familiar objects and animals. "Rufus", red, was usually bestowed on someone with red hair, while "Constans" indicated someone steadfast or faithful.