'aurignacian' originates from French, specifically the word 'Aurignacien', where it is named after the village 'Aurignac' in Haute-Garonne, France.

'aurignacian' changed from the French word 'Aurignacien' (meaning 'from Aurignac') and was adopted into English to refer to the archaeological culture defined by finds near Aurignac and similar assemblages elsewhere.

Initially, it meant 'of or from Aurignac' (a place name), but over time it evolved to denote the specific prehistoric cultural/archaeological industry now called the Aurignacian.