Crepereia gens
The gens Crepereia was a plebeian family of equestrian rank at ancient Rome. The family appears in history from the first century BC to the first or second century AD. Cicero describes the strict discipline of the Crepereii. Origin. "If a man's nomen is uncommon enough," write Barbara Levick and Shelagh Jameson, "it can reveal something of the origin and history of his family." The "Crepereius" is uncommon, attested only in Italy and certain portions of the Roman Empire, becoming relatively common only in North Africa. Varro states that the word "creper" is Sabine, which provides a  likely origin for this family. One branch of this gens during the first century BC proceeded east to the Greek-speaking provinces where they prospered as "negotiatores"; inscriptions bearing the name of this "gens" can be found at Attaleia and Pisidian Antioch. On the other hand, the Crepereii attested in North Africa, who number about 50, are explained as descendants of one or more recruits who served in the Legio III Augusta during the first or second century AD. Branches and cognomina. Among those cognomina appearing in history are "Rocus", from "raucus", "hoarse, shouting, raucous", and "Gallus", a common surname  with two ambivalent derivations: from "gallus", a cockerel, belonging to a common class of surnames derived from the names of familiar objects and animals; or "Gallus", a Gaul, frequently applied to persons of Gallic descent, appearance, or habits.