It is not certain when the word "tenka-bito" first became an established word or who started using it, however, it is said that the first book in which this word was mentioned was "Kawasumi Taikoki" written in 1621, and it is thought that this word had already become a common word among the people of that time.
「天下人」という言葉がいつ頃出来上がって、誰が使い始めたかは定かではないが、江戸時代初期の元和(日本)7年（1621年）より書かれた『川角太閤記』が初めてといわれており、この頃にはすでに普及・定着しつつあったことがわかる。