Maria gens

The gens Maria was a plebeian family of Rome.

Its most celebrated member was Gaius Marius, one of the greatest generals of antiquity, and seven times consul.

[1][2] As a nomen, Marius is probably derived from the Oscan praenomen Marius, in which case the family may be of Sabine or Sabellic background, although in this form the name is Latinized, and the family cannot be proven to have originated anywhere other than Rome.

[1][3] The Marii of the Republic used the praenomina Marcus, Gaius, Lucius, Quintus, and Sextus.

Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

Denarius of Gaius Marius Capito, 81 BC. Ceres is shown on the obverse, while the reverse depicts a ploughman with yoke of oxen.