A division sign is originally called a obelus 

  The word "obelus" comes from ὀβελός, the ancient Greek word for a sharpened stick, spit, or pointed pillar. This is the same root as that of the word "obelisk". 

Although previously used for subtraction, the obelus was first used as a symbol for division in 1659 in the algebra book Teutsche Algebraby Johann Rahn. Some think that John Pell, who edited the book, may have been responsible for this use of the symbol. The usage of the obelus to represent subtraction continued in some parts of Europe 

Other symbols for division include the slash or solidus (/), and the fraction bar (the horizontal bar in a vertical fraction).