When I read GOF the first time where the term is first mentioned, I thought it sounded a bit ridiculous actually, like the name of an Iron Maiden song (no offence to any fans out there! )

I can see for example the Carrows being impressed by a name like this, but in my mind people like Lucius Malfoy would prefer to go under a name like The Knights of Walpurgis.

Does anyone know if the name Death Eater had any other significance than being scary and morbid? Does it reference or mean anything specifically?