'Alaskan' originates from the name 'Alaska,' which is derived from the Aleut word 'alaxsxaq,' meaning 'the mainland' or 'the object towards which the action of the sea is directed.'

'Alaska' was adopted into Russian as 'Аляска' and later into English as 'Alaska,' with 'Alaskan' forming as an adjective and noun to describe people or things from Alaska.

Initially, it referred to the geographical region, but it evolved to describe people and characteristics associated with the region.