'autecologist' originates from Greek elements: the prefix 'auto-' from Greek 'autos' meaning 'self' and 'ecology' from Greek 'oikos' meaning 'house' or 'environment' plus 'logia' meaning 'study'; the agent suffix '-ist' was added in English to denote a person who studies a field.

'autecology' was coined in modern scientific English (19th century) from Greek roots 'autos' + 'oikos' + 'logia'; 'autecologist' developed as the agent-form in English by adding the suffix '-ist' to refer to a practitioner of autecology.

Initially coined to mean 'the study of individual organisms or species in relation to their environment,' the term has retained that specialized meaning and 'autecologist' refers specifically to a researcher working in that area.