'umbellifer' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'umbellifer', where 'umbella' meant 'little sunshade or little umbrella' and '-fer' meant 'bearing'.

'umbellifer' changed from Latin 'umbella' + suffix '-fer' via New/Medieval Latin usage and was adopted into English as 'umbellifer' (plural 'umbellifers').

Initially, it meant 'bearing small umbels (little umbrellas)', and over time it evolved into its current botanical meaning of 'a plant that bears umbels (members of the Apiaceae)'.