occupancy (n.)

1590s, "one who takes possession of something having no owner," from French occupant (15c.) or directly from Latin occupantem (nominative occupans), present participle of occupare "to take possession of" (see occupy). Earlier noun form was ocupier (early 14c.).

abstract noun suffix of quality or rank, from Latin -cia, -tia, from Greek -kia, -tia, from abstract ending -ia (see -ia) + stem ending -c- or -t-. The native correspondents are -ship, -hood.

also pre-occupancy, "prior occupation, act of taking possession before another," 1734, from pre- "before" + occupancy.