Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Claudius” come from?

Claudius derives from Latin Claudius, from Latin claudus meaning "lame," which traces through Proto-Indo-European keld- and ultimately to Proto-Indo-European kel-.

Ancestry of “Claudius”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1LatinClaudius—
2Latinclauduslimping, lame; crippled; halting, wavering,...
3Proto-Indo-Europeanḱelh₂-to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- →