Late 16th century; earliest use found in Meredith Hanmer (1543–1604), Church of England and Church of Ireland clergyman and historian. From post-classical Latin Nazaraeus, Nazareus of Nazareth (Vulgate), member of a Jewish or early Christian sect (4th cent. in Jerome; from Hellenistic Greek Ναζωραῖος of Nazareth, early Christian, in Byzantine Greek also member of a Jewish or early Christian sect + -an. Compare French Nazaréen, and earlier Old French, Middle French Nazarien, alteration (with substitution of the suffix -ien) of Old French Nazareus.