His sister was Plancia Magna; he was therefore the maternal uncle to Gaius Julius Plancius Varus Cornutus.
Varus was born and raised in Perga, the capital of the Roman province of Pamphylia.
Varus was of Roman, Jewish, Nabataean, Edomite, Greek, Armenian and Persian ancestry.
Inside in the courtyard of the Hellenistic Gate, there are inscribed bases of statues that bear the names of Varus and his father.
From these inscriptions it is understood that Varus with his father were wealthy, influential and generous citizens in Perga.