'appendicularia' originates from New Latin 'Appendicularia', ultimately from Latin 'appendicula' (diminutive of 'appendix'), where 'appendix' meant 'an appendage' and the suffix '-aria' was used to form collective or relating terms.

'appendicularia' developed in scientific New Latin usage from Medieval/Latin elements: Latin 'appendix' → diminutive 'appendicula' → New Latin taxonomic form 'Appendicularia', later adopted into English as the name for the tunicate group.

Initially related to the idea of 'things pertaining to small appendages' (from Latin), it evolved into a technical biological term referring specifically to a group (class) of tunicates.