'augusta' originates from Latin, specifically the feminine form of 'augustus', where the root 'aug-' (from the verb 'augere') meant 'to increase' and 'augustus' meant 'venerable' or 'consecrated'.

'augusta' was the feminine form of the Latin honorific 'augustus'; it was used in Late Latin and Medieval Latin as a title for imperial women and later adopted into various European languages as a personal name and as place names (e.g. towns named 'Augusta' or derived forms).

Initially, it meant 'consecrated, venerable, majestic' in Latin as an honorific; over time it evolved into a personal name, an imperial title in historical contexts, and a place name (losing some of the original religious/official sense in ordinary use).