The name Chancellor is derived from the Latin word 'cancellarius', which means a keeper of records or an usher. It originated in ancient Rome, where it referred to officials who stood by the latticed screens or 'cancelli' in courtrooms and kept records of legal proceedings.

In medieval Europe, the term Chancellor was used for a high-ranking official in the government or a nobleman's household, responsible for issuing official documents and seals. The Chancellor was often the head of the chancery, a secretarial office that drafted official letters and documents.

One of the earliest known references to the name Chancellor can be found in the works of the Roman historian Cassius Dio, who lived in the 3rd century AD. He mentions a 'cancellarius' who served under the Roman emperor Septimius Severus.

The name gained prominence during the Middle Ages, when the position of Chancellor became an important one in the royal courts of Europe. Notable historical figures with this name include:

1. Thomas Becket (1119-1170), the Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of England under King Henry II.
2. Pierre de Brézé (c. 1412-1465), a French nobleman who served as Chancellor of France under King Charles VII.
3. Sir Thomas More (1478-1535), an English lawyer and philosopher who served as Lord Chancellor of England under King Henry VIII.
4. Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898), the first Chancellor of the German Empire, who played a pivotal role in the unification of Germany in the 19th century.
5. Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967), the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany after World War II, who oversaw the country's economic recovery and reintegration into the international community.

Throughout history, the name Chancellor has been associated with positions of power, authority, and administration, reflecting its origins as a title for high-ranking officials and advisors to rulers and governments.