'assyrians' originates from Akkadian, specifically the city-name and god-name 'Aššur' (written aš-šur or Aššur), where 'Aššur' referred to the city, its patron deity and by extension its people.

'assyrians' came into English via Classical and Medieval forms: Greek 'Assúroi' / 'Assyria', then Latin 'Assyria' and Late Latin/Old French forms, through Middle English 'Assyrian' and finally the modern English plural 'assyrians'.

Initially it meant 'inhabitants or subjects of the city/region of Aššur (and later the Assyrian empire)'; over time it broadened to refer both to that ancient people and to a modern ethnic group descended from or identifying with that heritage.