'assam' originates from Sanskrit, specifically the word 'asama', where 'a-' meant 'not' and 'sama' meant 'equal' (giving the sense 'unequalled' or 'peerless').

'assam' changed from regional forms such as Assamese 'Asam' and was used in Persian and early English travel accounts as 'Asam' or 'Assam', eventually becoming the modern English name 'Assam'.

Initially it referred to a name meaning 'unequalled' or was associated with the Ahom people; over time it became primarily the geographical name for the region and, by extension, the name of the tea produced there.