'attendancy' originates from Latin, specifically the verb 'attendere', where 'ad-' meant 'to' and 'tendere' meant 'to stretch or direct (attention).'

'attendancy' changed through Old French and Middle English forms (from Latin 'attendere' to Old French 'atendre'/'atendre' and Middle English forms such as 'attendantie' or 'attendancy(e)') and eventually became the modern English word 'attendancy'.

Initially related to the idea of 'directing attention' (from 'attendere'), but over time it evolved into the noun meaning 'the act/state of attending; presence'.