'nonheraldic' originates from the prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non', meaning 'not') combined with the adjective 'heraldic' (formed from 'herald' + suffix '-ic'), where 'herald' comes via Old French from a Germanic source.

'herald' passed into English from Old French 'heraut'/'herald' (itself from a Germanic compound such as *hari-wald, 'army' + 'ruler'), producing the adjective 'heraldic' in later English; the negative prefix 'non-' was attached in Modern English to form 'nonheraldic' meaning 'not heraldic'.

Initially 'herald' meant 'messenger' or 'crier' and later became specialized to an officer concerned with coats of arms and ceremonial duties; 'heraldic' therefore came to mean 'relating to coats of arms', and 'nonheraldic' now means 'not relating to that domain'.