'well-networked' originates from Modern English, specifically the combination 'well' + 'networked', where 'well' meant 'in a good or satisfactory way' and 'networked' is the past-participle adjective from 'network' meaning 'a system of interconnected people or things'.

'networked' developed from the noun 'network' (19th century), which itself is a compound of 'net' (Old English 'net' meaning 'a mesh') and 'work' (Old English 'weorc' meaning 'deed, activity'); the compound adjective 'well-networked' emerged in modern usage by combining 'well' with the participial adjective 'networked'.

Initially the components meant 'in a good way' + 'having a network'; over time the compound came to be used specifically to describe people who are socially or professionally well connected.