Mid 19th century. Partly from classical Latin Palamēdēus of or relating to Palamedes (from Palamēdēs (ancient Greek Παλαμήδης), the name of a proverbially ingenious Greek hero at the siege of Troy, said to have invented some of the letters of the alphabet and the game of draughts + -ēus, suffix forming adjectives) + -an, and partly from Byzantine Greek Παλαμήδειος (from the name of Παλαμήδης + -ειος, suffix forming adjectives) + -an.

Late 19th century; earliest use found in The Century Dictionary. From scientific Latin †Palamedeae, use as order name of the plural of Palamedea, genus name + -an.