masc. proper name, from the name of two Roman gentes, perhaps related to claudus "lame," which is of unknown origin. The Claudian emperors (Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero) reigned from 14 to 68 C.E.
Gladys
fem. proper name, Welsh Gwladys, probably a Brythonified form of Latin Claudia (q.v.).