Late 17th century; earliest use found in Richard Leigh (1649/50–1728), poet. From French genevois, génevois (noun) inhabitant of Geneva, (adjective) of, relating to, or originating from Geneva from Genève + -ois. Compare earlier Genevian, Genevan, Genevese, and (with use as adjective) earlier Genevan, Genevian, and later Genevese.