'self-proclaimed' originates from Old English 'self' and Latin 'proclamare', specifically 'self' meant 'one's own' and in 'proclamare' the prefix 'pro-' meant 'forth' while 'clamare' meant 'to call or shout'.

'proclamare' passed into Old French as 'proclamer' and into Middle English as forms like 'proclamen'/'proclamen'; English formed the past participle 'proclaimed', and in modern English the compound adjective 'self-proclaimed' was created by combining 'self' + 'proclaimed'.

Initially related to publicly calling out or announcing (to proclaim); over time it evolved to describe someone who declares a status or title for themselves, often implying lack of official endorsement.