The Arp2/3 complex was named after it was identified in 1994 by affinity chromatography from Acanthamoeba castellanii, though it had been previously isolated in 1989 in a search for proteins that bind to actin filaments in Drosophila melanogaster embryos.
Kompleks Arp2/3 dinamai setelah diidentifikasi pada tahun 1994 berdasar kromatografi afinitas dari Acanthamoeba castellanii, meskipun sebelumnya telah diisolasi pada 1989 dalam pencarian protein yang mengikat filamen aktin pada embrio Drosophila melanogaster.