'civic-mindedness' originates from English, specifically the combination of 'civic' + 'minded' + the noun-forming suffix '-ness', where 'civic' comes from Latin 'civicus' (from 'civis') meaning 'citizen', 'minded' derives from 'mind' (Old English 'gemynd'/'mynd') meaning 'thought/attention', and '-ness' meant 'state or quality'.

'civic' came into English from Latin via Medieval/early modern usage of 'civicus' meaning 'of a citizen'; 'mind' has Germanic/Old English roots (Old English 'gemynd'/'mynd'); the compound adjective 'civic-minded' developed in modern English and the abstract noun 'civic-mindedness' was formed by adding '-ness'.

Initially elements like 'civic' mainly indicated relation to citizens or the city; over time the compound came to denote not just relation to the city but a personal disposition — the current meaning: 'the quality of being concerned with the community's welfare'.