'autogeny' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'autogenēs', where 'auto-' meant 'self' and 'genēs' (or 'genos') meant 'birth' or 'origin'.

'autogeny' entered scientific and medical English via New Latin/Modern Latin forms such as 'autogenēs' or 'autogenia' and eventually became the English noun 'autogeny'.

Initially it meant 'self-birth' or 'self-origin' in a general sense; over time the term retained that core sense of 'self-generation' while becoming specialized in biology (e.g., describing insects that produce eggs without external nourishment).