'paleography' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'palaiographia,' where 'palaios' meant 'ancient' and 'graphia' meant 'writing.'

'palaiographia' transformed into the Latin word 'palaeographia,' and eventually became the modern English word 'paleography.'

Initially, it meant 'ancient writing,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'the study of ancient writing systems.'