Etymology of "Syriac" and the Arameans
"Etymologically, "Syria" is merely an abbreviation of "Assyria," a name which covered the subject lands of the Assyrian empire, the subject-peoples being also called "Syriacs." Afterwards, in the Greco-Roman period, the shorter word came to be restricted to the territory west of the Euphrates, the designation "Syriacs," how ever, being given to the great mass of the Semitic populations dwelling between the Tigris and the Mediterranean, who are more accurately called Arameans."
The original name “Syria” was derived from the name “Assyria” and was originally the name of the subjects of the Assyrian Empire. Later, in the Greco-Roman period, the definition of the name became more specific, referring to the area west of the Euphrates River. Although the people of the larger area were known as “Syriacs,” they were actually known as Arameans.
