c. 1300, "a beheading," from present participle of head (v.). Meaning "an advancing in a certain direction" is from c. 1600. Meaning "title at the head of a portion of text" is from 1849.
the heading seemed to have little to do with the text
head-dress
-headed
header
head-gear
head-hunter
heading
headland
headless
headlight
headline
headliner