'parish' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'paroisse', where that form ultimately comes from Late Latin 'parochia' and Greek 'paroikia' (from 'paroikos').

'parish' changed from the Old French word 'paroisse' into Middle English forms such as 'paroche' and eventually became the modern English word 'parish'.

Initially it referred to a 'community' or 'place of residence' (from Greek for 'sojourning' or 'dwelling beside'), and over time it evolved into the specific sense of a church district or administrative area under a priest's care.