Herminia gens
The gens Herminia was an ancient patrician house at Rome. Members of the gens appear during the first war between the Roman Republic and the Etruscans, "circa" 508 BC, and from then to 448 BC. Two members of the family held the consulship, Titus Herminius Aquilinus in 506 BC, and Lars Herminius Aquilinus in 448. Origin. The Roman antiquaries regarded the Herminii as an Etruscan family. Silius Italicus mentions an Etruscan fisherman by this name. The Herminii are one of the only Roman families known to have used distinctly Etruscan praenomina. However, in the traditions relating to the  stand of Horatius and his companions at the Sublician Bridge, Titus Herminius appears to represent the ancient tribe of the "Titienses", the Sabine element of the Roman "populus". A number of Sabine and Oscan names begin with the syllable, "Her-". Praenomina. The praenomina associated with the Herminii are "Titus" and "Lars", although in place of "Lars", some sources give "Spurius" or "Lucius". Branches and cognomina. The only Heminii appearing in the consular fasti bore the cognomen "Aquilinus", apparently derived from "aquila", an eagle.