'autarchist' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'autarkhēs' / 'autarkhia', where 'auto-' meant 'self' and 'arkhē/arkhos' meant 'rule' or 'sufficiency'.

'autarchist' changed from Greek 'autarkhia' into Late Latin/French forms (e.g. Late Latin/Medieval Latin autarchia, French autarcie) and entered English as 'autarchy' and later as the agent-form 'autarchist'.

Initially, the root referred to 'self-sufficiency' or 'self-rule' in a descriptive sense; over time it developed the additional sense of 'one who advocates or practices self-sufficiency or political independence', which is the modern meaning.