The nomen, Tullius, was that of the family.

Of this family of Tullius to which Cicero belonged we know no details.

Plutarch tells us that of his father nothing was said but in extremes, some declaring that he had been a fuller, and others that he had been descended from a prince who had governed the Volsci.

We do not see why he may not have sprung from the prince, and also have been a fuller.

There can, however, be no doubt that he was a gentleman, not uneducated himself, with means and the desire to give his children the best education which Rome or Greece afforded.