Another version of it's origin
can be found here, but it, like Wikapedia, is unattributed. Allegedly, the name for "The ah-so (called by this name because it’s just ah — so easy to do) ...." According to another site, an American patent on it dates from the late 1800s.
Oddly enough, it was one of my first ways of accessing contraband when I was a tad under age. It was the only cork removing device we had in the house of my youth. My parents purchased it as a novelty when in wine country many moons ago. I made good use of it, unbeknownst to them. Due to their retroactive grace, I still have it to this day.