Caecus belonged to the patrician "gens" Claudia, one of the most important families of the Republic, which counted prominent men from its beginning to the Roman Empire. His exact relationship with the Claudii of the fifth century is uncertain as there is some doubt on their career, but Caecus was certainly a descendant of Appius Claudius Crassus Inregillensis Sabinus, consul in 495 and semi-legendary founder of the gens. This man's son was perhaps consul in 471 and the leading member of the Decemvirate in 451; his brother was consul in 460, and his son and grandson were respectively consular tribunes in 424 and 403. Livy describes them in a stereotypical fashion as haughty aristocrats with arch-conservative views.