'e-signature' originates from the combination of 'electronic' and 'signature', where 'electronic' refers to technology-based processes and 'signature' refers to a person's name written in a distinctive way as a form of identification.

'e-signature' evolved from the need to authenticate documents electronically, replacing traditional handwritten signatures in digital transactions.

Initially, it meant 'a digital representation of a handwritten signature', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.