'non-European' originates from Modern English, formed by the negative prefix 'non-' (from Old French/Latin 'non' meaning 'not') attached to 'European' (from Latin 'Europa').

'European' comes from Latin 'Europa', which itself comes from Greek 'Eurṓpē'; the prefix 'non-' (from Old English/Old French 'non') was commonly used in Late Middle English and Modern English to create negations, producing compounds such as 'non-European'.

Initially it simply meant 'not European' (a negation of 'European'); over time the compound has remained a straightforward negative descriptor for people or things outside Europe.