'agoranomus' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'ἀγορανόμος', where 'ἀγορά' meant 'marketplace' and 'νόμος' meant 'law or custom'.

'ἀγορανόμος' was used in ancient Greek city-states to refer to officials who managed the marketplace, and eventually became the modern English word 'agoranomus'.

Initially, it meant 'market overseer', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.