'ateuchus' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'ateuchos', where 'a-' meant 'without' and 'teuchos' meant 'case' or 'container'.

'ateuchos' was later adopted into New Latin as the genus name 'Ateuchus' by entomologists (19th century usage), and it has been used in modern taxonomy as the scientific name 'Ateuchus'.

Initially it meant 'without a case' in Greek; over time the form lost its literal descriptive meaning and became a taxonomic name for a group of dung beetles.