'aristarchy' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'aristarkhia', where 'aristos' meant 'best' and 'arkhein' meant 'to rule'.

'aristarkhia' passed into New Latin as 'aristarchia' and then into English as 'aristarchy' (used in writings from the 17th century onward), with the plural 'aristarchies' formed in English.

Initially, it meant 'rule by the best' in Greek political-philosophical contexts; over time the core meaning has remained largely the same, though usage in English has been rare and often literary or scholarly.