'archbishopric' originates from the combination of English 'archbishop' and Old English/Old High Germanic element 'rīċ' (Old English 'rīċ', Proto-Germanic '*rīkiz'), where 'archbishop' itself comes from Greek elements 'archi-' (meaning 'chief') + 'episkopos' (via Latin/Old English meaning 'overseer' or 'bishop'), and 'rīċ' meant 'realm' or 'rule'.

'archbishopric' was used in Middle English in forms such as 'archbischopric' or 'archbisshopric' and developed into the modern English 'archbishopric' by regular sound and spelling changes from Middle English to Early Modern English.

Initially it denoted the 'realm or jurisdiction associated with an archbishop' and the 'office or dignity attached to that role'; over time these senses have remained largely stable and are the primary modern meanings.