The first member of this gens to achieve prominence was Gaius Sextilius, consular tribune in 379 BC.
None of the family obtained the consulship, but they endured throughout Roman history from the early Republic into imperial times.
The nomen of the gens Sextia was derived from the same name, much as the praenomen Quintus gave rise to the gentes Quinctia and Quinctilia.
[3][4] The praenomina used by the Sextilii included Gaius, Lucius, Marcus, Publius, and Quintus, all of which were very common throughout Roman history.
Most of the Sextilii under the Republic bore no cognomen, but a few surnames are found in later times and under the Empire.