'autograph' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'autographos', where 'auto-' meant 'self' and 'graphō' meant 'to write'.

'autographos' passed into Medieval/Latin as 'autographum', then into Middle French as 'autographe' and entered Middle English as 'autograf', eventually becoming the modern English word 'autograph'.

Initially it meant 'written by oneself', but over time it evolved into the current meanings of 'a person's signature' and the verb 'to sign'.