'assigner' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'assignare' (through Old French 'assigner'), where 'ad-' meant 'to' and 'signare' meant 'to mark or sign'.

'assignare' (Latin) passed into Old French as 'assigner' and into Middle English in forms like 'assignen'/'assigne', with the agent suffix producing the modern English noun 'assigner'.

Initially tied to the idea of marking or designating something ('to mark toward'), it evolved into the meaning of allocating, appointing, or transferring, and the agent noun came to mean 'one who assigns'.