the term is a modern english formation, directly constructed from the surname of the influential 18th-century swedish mystic and philosopher, emanuel swedenborg. the surname 'swedenborg' is a compound of 'sweden', the name of the country, and the swedish element 'borg', meaning 'fortress' or 'stronghold'. the english suffix '-ian', with its lineage tracing back to latin '-ianus' and greek '-ianos', is a productive suffix for forming demonyms and, by extension, terms denoting adherence to a person's ideas or doctrines. therefore, 'swedenborgian' literally means 'pertaining to or a follower of swedenborg', cleanly mapping its morphological parts to its modern religious and philosophical sense.

Structure: swedenborg + ian swedenborg (proper noun, from the surname of emanuel swedenborg, itself derived from the name of the country sweden and the element 'borg' meaning 'fortress' or 'town') + ian (suffix of latin origin via greek -ianos, forming adjectives and nouns meaning 'belonging to' or 'following the teachings of').