Late Middle English; earliest use found in The Wycliffite Bible (early version). From post-classical Latin Madianites (Vulgate) from Hellenistic Greek Μαδιανίτης (Septuagint) from Μαδιάμ (from Hebrew Miḏyān Midian, name of a tribe in the Old Testament and Hebrew Scriptures and also a son of Abraham by his second wife, Keturah (Genesis 25:2), from whom they were descended) + -ιτης, after Hebrew miḏyānī. In later use remodelled after the name Midian.