'peoples' is the plural form of 'people', which originates from Old French, specifically the word 'pople', from Latin 'populus', meaning 'a people, nation, or body of citizens'.

'populus' in Latin became 'pople' in Old French, which then became 'people' in Middle English, and 'peoples' as the plural form in modern English.

Initially, 'populus' meant 'a people or nation', and this meaning has been preserved in the plural 'peoples' to refer to multiple distinct groups or nations.