'Mycenaean' originates from the name 'Mycenae,' an ancient city in Greece, where 'Mycenae' was a major center of Greek civilization.

'Mycenaean' changed from the Greek word 'Μυκηναῖος' (Mykēnaîos) and eventually became the modern English word 'Mycenaean'.

Initially, it referred specifically to the inhabitants of Mycenae, but over time it evolved to describe the broader civilization associated with the city.