'tintinnabulist' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'tintinnabulum', where the root 'tintinn-' related to 'to ring' and the suffix '-abulum' indicated an instrument or thing.

'tintinnabulum' in Latin (meaning 'a small bell' or 'an instrument that rings') passed into Late Latin and influenced English formations such as 'tintinnabulate' and 'tintinnabulation'; English later formed the agent noun 'tintinnabulist' (person associated with ringing) by adding the suffix '-ist'.

Initially it referred to the object 'a small bell' or the ringing sound; over time related forms came to denote the ringing action and eventually a person associated with bells, yielding the modern sense 'one who rings bells'.