The idea of a Tinker Bell-like faery is rather modern. Disney Wikia
3. Fairies Came From Faeries, Which Were Considered Evil Spirits
Far from the modern-day images of Tinkerbell and her friends, faeries were believed to be supernatural beings that could bring both benefit and harm to humans. Though lore about creatures that resemble faeries are present in many ancient cultures, the belief was particularly strong in pre-Christian Celtic Europe and spread as a superstitious element in Christendom throughout the Middle Ages.
In ancient Irish lore, the faeries were known as Tuatha de Danaan, or the divine children of the goddess Danu. Part god, part spirit, and part mortal, they conquered Ireland and went on to intermarry with humans. As faery lore spread into Christian Europe during the Middle Ages, having fairy blood was believed by many to be a favorable trait.
However, around the 13th century, beliefs about faeries changed so that they were regarded as evil spirits, if not omens. They were believed to exchange human infants for their own, who were known as “changelings,” and people had to leave food and drink outside their homes to appease them. To this day, faeries are believed to haunt many ancient Celtic sites.
The modern fairy (spelled differently) probably originates with the likes of James Barrie and others taking artistic license on this ancient mythological creature.