while postumius varus was a third-century member of the "gens postumii", he was not descended from the republican family of the same name. according to anthony birley, he was the great-grandson of the orator marcus postumius festus, a friend of the orator fronto as a well as a fellow african; however postumius festus' descendants appear to have made italy their home. birley notes postumius varus had a brother or cousin, titus flavius postumius titianus (consul "ordinarius" 301), whose name implies a link with the family of the emperor pertinax's wife, flavia titiana, although birley admits "these names were common."