'antisurplician' originates from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek anti-, meaning 'against') combined with 'surplice', a word that entered English via Old French 'superpellice' and Latin 'superpelliceum'; in this compound 'anti-' conveys opposition to the surplice.

'surplice' came into English from Old French 'superpellice', itself from Latin 'superpelliceum' (literally 'over a fur garment'). In Early Modern English, opponents of the surplice were described by adding 'anti-' to forms of 'surplice' (yielding 'antisurplician') to denote those against the garment during vestments controversies.

Initially it specifically meant 'against the surplice' (i.e., opposed to clergy wearing the surplice); over time the term has remained narrowly descriptive but has become archaic and largely historical in modern usage.