The term “janitor” comes from the Latin word “janua”, which means “door”. In ancient Rome, the “janitor” was a person who was responsible for guarding the entrance to a building or temple. Over time, the meaning of the term evolved to include other duties related to maintaining and cleaning buildings.

By the early 19th century, the term “janitor” was commonly used to describe someone whose job involved cleaning and maintenance duties in a public building or school. Today, the term “janitor” is still used to describe someone who performs cleaning and maintenance duties in a variety of settings, including offices, schools, hospitals, and other public facilities.