'archontate' originates from Medieval Latin 'archontatus', ultimately from Greek 'archōn' (ἄρχων), where 'arch-' meant 'ruler' or 'chief'.

'archontate' changed from Medieval Latin 'archontatus' (used in ecclesiastical and administrative Latin), which in turn derives from ancient Greek 'archōn'; it entered English usage via scholarly and historical writings describing Greek and Byzantine institutions.

Initially it referred specifically to the office or rule associated with an 'archōn' in Greek contexts; over time it has been used more generally to denote either the office itself or the jurisdiction exercised by such an official.