You may have wondered how Arkansas got its name?
The name actually carries a rich history which is deeply tied to indigenous cultures, early European explorers, and linguistic evolution over time.
How Did Arkansas Get Its Name?
The origins of our state name offers a fascinating glimpse into the past.
French Influence on Native American words
If you do any research on some of the place names in the state of Arkansas you will discover that many of them are French pronunciations of Native American Words.
The name “Arkansas” is no exception. It came from the Quapaw Indians through the French explorers.
It was derived from the word used by French explorers to describe a Native American tribe known as the Quapaw. The Quapaw, lived along the Mississippi River and were known for their trading and agricultural communities.
They were also called the Akansa which meant “south wind”.
You begin to see various spellings of the word, Akansa, used to name the region on maps and in the journals of explorers as early as 1673.
Since most of the explorers were French you began to see “Arkansas” with a silent “S” on the end.
If you speak French or perhaps, like me, took it in high school you will be aware that the French do love their silent letters!
The Pronunciation Debate
After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Arkansas became a U.S. territory, and English speakers began to debate the pronunciation of the name.
Some pronounced it as “Ar-KAN-sas,” following English phonetic rules, while others adhered to the French influence, saying “AR-kan-saw.”
Two senators became divided on the pronunciation and the debate became so prominent that in 1881, the Arkansas General Assembly passed a resolution declaring “Arkansas” should be pronounced “AR-kan-saw,” but spelled “Arkansas” thus preserving BOTH the French and Native American linguistic heritage.
This particular pronunciation preserves the memory of the Indians who were the original inhabitants of our state, while the spelling with its silent letter on the end, clearly shows the language of the French adventurers who explored this area.
Then Why is Kansas pronounced Kan-zuhs?
Kansas is pronounced Kan-zuhs because this is the English pronunciation of that same Indian word, Akansa.
Supposedly the French pronunciation, which Arkansans use, is the closest to the original word used by the Native Americans.
It is illegal to mispronounce the name of the state
Although it might be tempting to pronounce the name of the state Ar – Kansas it is most decidedly Ark – an – saw!
In fact, one of the fun facts about Arkansas is that there is actually a law that states that it is illegal to mispronounce the name of the state!
What are People From Arkansas Called?
We usually call ourselves Ar-Kansans. Although you will also hear some say Arkansawyers.
Hope that you have enjoyed learning more about how Arkansas got its name!
Thanks for stopping by.
