patrician. The Sergii, like many other ancient Roman gentes, traced their descent from the Trojans. They regarded Sergestus as their ancestor (Verg. A. 5.121) : --
" Sergestusque, domus tenet a quo Sergia nomen."
The Sergii were distinguished in the early history of the republic, but obtained an unenviable notoriety at a later age by Catiline belonging to them. The first member of the gens who obtained the consulship was L. Sergius Fidenas, in B. C. 437. The Sergii bore the cognomens of CATILINA, ESQILINUS, FIDENAS, ORATA, PAULUS, PLANCUS (accidentally omitted under Plancus, and given below), and SILUS. Silus is the only cognomen which occurs on coins. A few persons of the gens are mentioned without any surname : these are given below.