'assyriological' originates from Modern English, specifically from the word 'Assyriology' with the adjectival suffix '-ical', where 'Assyriology' derives from 'Assyria' and the Greek element 'logia' (from 'logos') meaning 'study' or 'account'.

'Assyriology' developed in 19th-century scholarship from the place-name 'Assyria' (itself from Akkadian 'Aššur') combined with Greek '-logia'; 'assyriological' was subsequently formed in English from that noun to mean 'relating to Assyriology'.

Initially it meant 'pertaining to the scholarly study of Assyria', and over time it has retained that specialized academic meaning (covering language, history, literature, inscriptions, and archaeology).