The 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia [answers][1] that the division of the several treatises into chapters as well as the sequence of these chapters was the work of Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] himself although some changes were made over time. See [there][1] for full references. > **The division of the several treatises into chapters as well as the > sequence of these chapters was the work of Rabbi himself** (Letter of > Sherira Gaon, l.c. p. 13). The portion discussed each day constituted > an independent pereḳ; and this term was, therefore, applied elsewhere > to a single discourse also. **Generally speaking, the original division > and sequence of the chapters have been preserved**, as appears from > various passages of the Talmud (R. H. 31b; Suk. 22b; Yeb. 9a; Ket. > 15a; Niddah 68b; Zeb. 15a). > > The names of the chapters taken from the initial letters are likewise > old, and some of them are mentioned even in the Talmud (B. M. 35b; > Niddah 48a). **In the course of time, however, various changes were made > in the division, sequence, and names of the chapters**; thus, for > example, the division of Tamid into seven chapters is not the original > one. On other variations in sequence see Frankel, l.c. pp. 264-265, > and on the changes in the names see Berliner in "Ha-Misderonah," i. > 40b. [1]: http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10879-mishnah#anchor14