'bandman' originates from Modern English as a compound of 'band' + 'man', where 'band' (in the sense of a group of musicians) and 'man' (person) combine to mean 'a person of a band'.

'band' originally comes from Old Norse/Old English roots (compare Old Norse 'band' and Old English 'bænd' related to bonds or ties). The sense 'group' or 'company' developed later, and with 'man' (Old English 'mann') the compound 'bandman' emerged in English to denote a member of such a group, particularly a musical or military band.

Initially, 'band' was connected to the idea of binding or a bond; over time the word developed the sense of a 'group' and then specifically a musical group. 'Bandman' therefore evolved to mean 'a person who belongs to a band' (a musician).