"trusting to one's own powers," 1826; see self- + reliant. Self-dependent in the same sense is from 1670s
Entries linking to self-reliant
self-
word forming element indicating "oneself," also "automatic," from Old English use of self (pron.) in compounds, such as selfbana "suicide," selflice "self-love, pride, vanity, egotism," selfwill "free will." Middle English had self-witte "one's own knowledge and intelligence" (early 15c.).
OED counts 13 such compounds in Old English. Middle English Compendium lists four, counting the self-will group as a whole. It re-emerges as a living word-forming element mid-16c., "probably to a great extent by imitation or reminiscence of Greek compounds in (auto-)," and formed a great many words in the pamphlet disputes of the 17c.
reliant adj.
1856, "having or indicating reliance or confidence;" see rely (v.) + -ant. Perhaps based on reliance. Because its meaning shades into "dependent (on)," a sense attested by 1878, it would seem an odd name for an automobile, but Chrysler (Plymouth) nonetheless chose it as one in 1981.