'archbishopry' originates from Greek and Latin elements via Old French and Middle English: 'arch-' from Greek 'arkhi-' meaning 'chief' and 'bishop' from Greek 'episkopos' (via Latin 'episcopus') meaning 'overseer'; the suffix '-ry' comes from Old French '-erie'/'-rie' denoting 'state, condition, or office'.

'archbishopry' developed through compound and suffixation: Greek 'arkhi-' + 'episkopos' → Latin 'archiepiscopus' → Old English/Middle English forms (e.g. 'earcebiscop', 'archebisshop') to which the suffix '-ry' was added in Middle English, yielding forms like 'archebisshopry' and eventually modern 'archbishopry'.

Initially it meant 'the office or jurisdiction of an archbishop'; over time the basic meaning has been retained, though modern usage more commonly favors the synonym 'archbishopric.'