The first of the gens to achieve prominence was Gaius Acilius, who was quaestor in 203 and tribune of the plebs in 197 BC.
According to Millar, "[t]he one indubitable case of continuity from the republic to the fourth century is the Acilii Glabriones.
The surname Glabrio is derived from the adjective glaber, "smooth", and probably referred to someone who was bald.
[4] Dondin-Payre suggests that, interpreted as "hairless" or "depilated", Glabrio had the further connotation of "effeminate".
A coin of this family depicts the head of Pallas within a laurel wreath on the obverse, and on the reverse, a quadriga bearing Jupiter and Victoria.