'arithmetician' originates from English, specifically formed from the word 'arithmetic' with the suffix '-ian', where Greek 'arithmos' meant 'number'.

'arithmetician' traces back through Middle English 'arithmetike' (from Old French 'arithmetique') to Late Latin 'arithmetica' and ultimately Greek 'arithmetikos' (from 'arithmos'); the agent noun was formed in English by adding the suffix '-ian' to 'arithmetic'.

Initially related to 'arithmetic' (the study or practice of number calculation), it came to mean specifically 'a person skilled in arithmetic' and is used for people who perform or specialize in numerical calculation.