'self-government' originates from the combination of 'self' and 'government', where 'self' refers to one's own and 'government' refers to the act of governing.

'self-government' evolved from the concept of 'self-rule' in the 17th century, emphasizing the ability of a community to govern itself.

Initially, it meant 'the act of governing oneself', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'the government of a country by its own people'.