'Englishwoman' originates from Old English, specifically the words 'Englisc' and 'wīfmann', where 'Englisc' meant 'of the Angles/England' and 'wīfmann' meant 'woman' (literally 'woman-person').

'Englishwoman' changed from the Old English elements 'Englisc' and 'wīfmann'; 'Englisc' developed into Middle English 'English' and 'wīfmann' into Middle English forms like 'womman'/'woman', eventually producing the modern compound 'Englishwoman'.

Initially, the elements referred to 'a person of the Angles (people of early England)' and 'a woman/person'; over time this evolved into the modern sense 'a female person from England'.