'arvicolinae' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Arvicola', where 'arvum' meant 'field' and 'cola' meant 'dweller'.

'arvicolinae' changed from the Latin word 'arvicola' combined with the zoological suffix '-inae' (used to form names of subfamilies), producing the New Latin taxonomic name 'Arvicolinae' for this group of rodents.

Initially it referred to 'field-dweller' (from Latin 'arvicola'), but over time it evolved into its current technical meaning as 'the rodent subfamily including voles and lemmings'.