'sacristan' originates from Medieval Latin, specifically the word 'sacristanus,' where 'sacrist-' meant 'sacred' and '-anus' was a suffix denoting a person associated with a place or function.

'sacristanus' transformed into the Old French word 'sacristain,' and eventually became the modern English word 'sacristan' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'a person in charge of sacred objects,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.