Vipsania gens

The gens Vipsania or Vipsana was an obscure plebeian family of equestrian rank at ancient Rome.

By far the most illustrious of the family was Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, a close friend and adviser of Augustus, whom the emperor intended to make his heir.

[2][3] The only praenomina associated with the main family of the Vipsanii were Lucius and Marcus, two of the most common names throughout Roman history.

Vipsanii named Gaius, Publius, Quintus, Sextus, and Titus are known from inscriptions and coins.

Its origin and meaning were obscure even in antiquity; the most familiar explanation was that it was one of many praenomina derived from the circumstances of childbirth, and referred to a child delivered feet-first.