a surname of the Sergia and Servilia Gentes, derived from Fidenae, a town about five miles from Rome, and which frequently occurs in the early history of the republic. The first Sergius, who bore this surname, was L. Sergius, who is said to have obtained it because he was elected consul in the year (B. C. 437) after the revolt of Fidenae; but as Fidenae was a Roman colony, he may have been a native of the town. This surname was used by his descendants as their family name. [See below.]
The first member of the Servilia gens who received this surname was Q. Servilius Priscus, who took Fidenae in his dictatorship, B. C. 435; and it continued to be used by his descendants as an agnomen, in addition to their regular family name of Priscus. [PRISCUS.]