'ballyhooer' originates from English, specifically the word 'ballyhoo' with the agentive suffix '-er', where 'ballyhoo' meant 'sensational publicity or uproar' and '-er' indicates 'one who performs an action'.

'ballyhoo' developed in late 19th-century American English (c. 1890s) as carnival and press slang meaning a commotion or sensational publicity; the agent noun 'ballyhooer' was later formed by adding '-er' to denote a person who produces ballyhoo.

Initially, it meant 'one who makes a commotion or shouts to attract attention', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a person who promotes or publicizes something in an exaggerated or sensational way'.