The material was discovered in Romania by Franz Nopcsa, in the late Maastrichtian Sânpetru Formation (Rognacian faunal stage, deposited c. 68 - 66 million years ago) of the Haţeg Basin in Transylvania.[2] The scientific name means "C.W. Andrews' Transylvanian bird", after the namer of Elopteryx,[3] and Ancient Greek (h)epta (επτά) "seven" + asty (άστυ) "city" + ornis (όρνις) "bird"; the Latin septum urbium[4] or the German Siebenbürgen - meaning "seven cities" or "seven castles" - were common names for the Transylvanian region throughout the centuries.