'autography' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'autographia', where 'auto-' meant 'self' and 'graphē' meant 'writing'.

'autography' changed from the Greek/Late Latin word 'autographia' and passed through Medieval/Modern French and Latin forms (e.g. 'autographie') before becoming the modern English 'autography'.

Initially, it meant 'self-writing' in a literal sense; over time it came to denote specifically 'an author's own handwriting or signature' and was later extended to certain photographic/printing processes producing direct reproductions.