'surface-dwelling' originates from the combination of 'surface,' meaning 'the outermost layer,' and 'dwelling,' meaning 'living or residing.'

'Surface' and 'dwelling' have been used in English since the Middle Ages, with 'surface' coming from the Old French 'surface' and 'dwelling' from the Old English 'dwellan.'

Initially, 'dwelling' referred to any form of living, but combined with 'surface,' it specifically denotes living on the outermost layer.