Which TV show's online fans originated “ship” in its relationship sense around 1995? The answer is The X-Files.
The relationship sense of “ship” is generally traced to internet fans of The X-Files who wanted the series’ two central agents, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, to become romantically involved. Fans initially called themselves “relationshippers,” then shortened the term to “R'shippers,” and eventually “shippers.” The pairing itself became known as the Mulder–Scully relationship, often abbreviated MSR.
The wording “around 1995” matters because the history is based on early online usage rather than one universally agreed invention date. The Oxford English Dictionary records noun forms such as “ship” and “shipper” in 1996 postings on the Usenet group alt.tv.x-files. “Shipping” appeared later, in 1997, and the verb “to ship” is attested from 1998.
The term has since spread across virtually every fandom. A ship can involve fictional characters or real people, and fans may express their preference through fan fiction, fan art, discussion, or pairing names. The phrase does not mean the couple is canon; it describes the fans’ desired or supported relationship.