The bonnet, as a type of headwear, does not have a single identifiable creator but originated in the Middle Ages around the 13th century in Europe, particularly within Christian religious communities where women wore simple head coverings for modesty and protection. The term "bonnet" evolved for various styles and cultures, including headwraps in Africa, but the European bonnet specifically reflected humility and modesty among women of that period.

In the context of hair protection bonnets, especially within Black culture, these evolved as a staple by the mid-20th century to help maintain textured hair, with their practical use tied deeply to African and African American hair care traditions. While there have been modern inventors and notable individuals involved in the manufacture or popularization of bonnets in specific eras or regions, such as Sophia Woodhouse Welles in America, the bonnet as an accessory is the result of centuries of adaptation rather than the invention of a single person.

Recent controversies, such as claims by individuals like Sarah Marantz Lindenberg, who founded the company NiteCap, highlight ongoing discussions around the cultural origins and appropriation of the hair bonnet but do not reflect the actual historic origins of this garment.