Where does the term "pay to the order of" comes from?

Question

Just paying some bills and wondering if there was some kind of history behind it

Answer 1

A check is an order to your bank to give your money to someone else so you are telling them to pay to the order of--------

Then you sign, date and have the amount in numbers and words and it is valid. If you write it on a huge game show sized check you will need to go with them to cash it so they can give you back your canceled check.

Answer 2

Now we write a check to someone and they cash it. I believe in the past checks were almost like currency e.g. I would make it payable to you and you would endorse it to the landlord and he would endorse it over to the guy who sold him the coal.

I'm guessing if it just said pay you - that might prevent you from endorsing it to others. Now it says pay to the order of the payee so you can.