'cataloguer' originates from English, specifically the word 'catalogue', which ultimately comes from Greek 'katalogos' via Medieval Latin 'catalogus' and Old French 'catalogue'. In the Greek components, 'kata-' meant 'according to/down' and 'logos' meant 'word, reason, or list'.

'catalogue' entered Middle English from Old French 'catalogue', which in turn came from Medieval Latin 'catalogus' and ultimately from Greek 'katalogos'. The Modern English agentive suffix '-er' was later added to form 'cataloguer' (a person who makes a catalogue).

Initially, the root word meant 'a list' or 'register'; over time, with the addition of the agent suffix '-er', it also came to mean 'a person who makes or compiles such a list', which is the current meaning of 'cataloguer'.