The origin of the name has been obscured by the fact that it is chiefly known from its association with gens Claudia, and was borne by no other major figures in Roman history.
Titus Livius relates the story of how, in the early days of the Roman Republic, a wealthy Sabine by the name of Attius Clausus emigrated to Rome from the town of Cures, together with his family and retainers, and was admitted to the patriciate.
[3][2] The Claudian gens was also one of the proudest and most conservative families at Rome, nearly always siding with the aristocratic party against the plebs and the more reform-minded amongst the patricians.
Herdonius was a Sabine, like the ancestors of the Claudii, but his name shows that Appius had an existence independent of that gens.
[3][2] During the later years of the Republic, and continuing into Imperial times, the praenomen Appius was used by several plebeian gentes, including the Annii, Junii, Modii, Popidii, Saufeii, Silvii, and Villii.