Afer was a paternal cousin of the future Emperor Trajan. Paulina was a daughter of a distinguished Hispano-Roman Senatorial family. Hadrian's elder sister and only sibling was Aelia Domitia Paulina, married with the triple consul Lucius Julius Ursus Servianus, his niece was Julia Serviana Paulina and his great-nephew was Gnaeus Pedanius Fuscus Salinator, from Barcino.