Gegania gens
The gens Gegania was an old patrician family at ancient Rome, which was prominent from the earliest period of the Republic to the middle of the fourth century BC. The first of this gens to obtain the consulship was Titus Geganius Macerinus in 492 BC. The gens fell into obscurity even before the Samnite Wars, and is not mentioned again by Roman historians until the final century of the Republic. Origin. The Geganii claimed to be descended from Gyas, who accompanied Aeneas to Italy. They were said to be one of the noblest families of the Alban aristocracy , and were incorporated into the Roman state after that city's destruction by Tullus Hostilius. However, according to Plutarch, even before this a Gegania is supposed to have been one of the first Vestal Virgins, appointed by Numa Pompilius. Elsewhere, Plutarch describes a Gegania who was the wife of Servius Tullius, although Dionysius makes her the wife of Lucius Tarquinius Priscus. A third Gegania is mentioned by Plutarch during the time of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus. Praenomina. The Geganii mentioned in history bore the common praenomina "Lucius", "Marcus", and "Titus", with one example of the rare praenomen "Proculus". Those found in  inscriptions mostly bore the names "Lucius", "Sextus", and "Marcus", although other praenomina are occasionally found, including "Aulus", "Publius", and "Quintus". As the inscription naming the priest Clesipus Geganius cannot be securely dated, it is unclear what sort of name "Clesipus" is, although it may be a cognomen being used in place of a praenomen, or an instance of the sort of polyonymous nomenclature that was typical of Imperial times. Branches and cognomina. The only family of the Geganii during the early Republic bore the cognomen "Macerinus", a diminutive of "Macer", meaning "lean" or "skinny". Epigraphic sources mention a number  of Geganii living under the early Empire, bearing a variety of surnames, but there is no evidence of how they were related to their Republican forebears.