'churchwarden' originates from Middle English, specifically the word 'chirchewardene', where 'church' meant 'church' and 'warden' meant 'guardian or keeper'.

'churchwarden' changed from Middle English 'chirchewardene', built from Old English elements such as 'cirice' (church) and 'weard' (guardian), and eventually became the modern English word 'churchwarden'.

Initially, it meant 'guardian or keeper of the church (property and order)'; over time the primary meaning has remained the same, though the term was later also applied to a style of long-stemmed pipe.