Origin
The modern use of the term dates from the 17th Century French ruban rond (round ribbon) [1][2]. This described the practice of signatories to petitions against authority (usually Government officials petitioning the Crown) appending their names on a document in a non-hierarchical circle or ribbon pattern (and so disguising the order in which they have signed) in order that none may be identified as a ringleader.
From
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round-robin
