The 'origin' of this custom/tradition is not known. = The 'origins' of this custom/tradition are not known. [=no one knows how this custom/tradition started]
He comes from 'humble origins'. [=he comes from a family that did not have high social status or much money]
The English word “rendezvous” is French 'in origin'. [=the English word comes from French]
(..) Let's talk about the bonus more. There is a clause in the contract which specifically states... any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin... - must be investigated. - I don't wanna hear it. - We don't know if it's intelligent. - I wanna go home and party. (..)1979 Alien
(..) She's programmed to do that should certain conditions arise. They have. - Like what? - It seems she has... intercepted a transmission of unknown origin. - She got us up to check it out. - A transmission? Out here? - Yeah. - What kind of a transmission? Acoustical beacon. It repeats (..)1979 Alien