'Sabbatarian' originates from English, specifically formed from the noun 'Sabbath' + the suffix '-arian', where '-arian' meant 'pertaining to or connected with'.

'Sabbath' comes from Hebrew 'shabbat' via Greek 'sabbaton' and Latin 'sabbatum' into Old English; the modern English 'Sabbath' combined with the suffix '-arian' (from Latin '-arius') produced 'Sabbatarian' in later English usage.

Initially it meant 'someone connected with or concerning the Sabbath', and over time it has come to mean specifically 'a person who observes the Sabbath' or an adjective meaning 'relating to Sabbath observance'.