Ofilia gens

The gens Ofilia, also spelled Ofillia and Ofellia, was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Its most illustrious member was doubtless the jurist Aulus Ofilius, a friend of both Caesar and Cicero.

Origin
The nomen Ofilius first appears in history during the period of the Samnite Wars, both as a praenomen and a nomen among the Samnites, but by the first century BC individuals of this gens are found at Rome. As a nomen, Ofilius may be regarded as a patronymic surname based on the existing praenomen, but Chase suggests a derivation from Ofella, a cognomen formed as a diminutive of offa, "a morsel".

Members

 * Ofilius Calavius, a Campanian leader during the Samnite Wars, although in this case Ofilius appears to be his praenomen.
 * Aulus Ofilius, an eminent jurist of the first century BC, with whom Caesar, Cicero, and Atticus were well-acquainted. He was a pupil of Servius Sulpicius Rufus, and the tutor of Tubero, Capito, and Labeo.
 * Ofillius, a military tribune serving under Octavian at the time of the mutiny of the soldiers in 36 BC. Ofillius rejected Octavian's offers of military honours as a reward for service.  He subsequently disappeared.
 * Marcus Ofilius Hilarus, an actor whose death was remarked upon by Pliny the Elder. He expired at a birthday dinner, given by himself, so quickly and painlessly that some time elapsed before anyone discovered that he was dead.
 * Ofellius, a philosopher mentioned by Arrian.
 * Ofilius Macedo, one of the quindecimviri sacris faciundis in AD 204.
 * Aulus Ofellius Macedo, a military tribune in the first legion, who subsequently became governor of Epirus, then of Bithynia and Pontus.
 * Ofillius Maximus, patronus municipii of Terventum in Samnium.