Early 17th century; earliest use found in Thomas Adams (1583–1652), Church of England clergyman. From post-classical Latin ubi location, position, use as noun of classical Latin ubi (interrogative and relative) ‘where’ from the same Italic base as Umbrian pufe, Oscan puf from the same Indo-European base as Sanskrit kuha, Avestan kudā, and Old Church Slavonic kŭde.