'Alaskan' originates from '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 English from Russian 'Аляска' (Alyaska), which was derived from the Aleut word 'alaxsxaq.'

Initially, it referred to the geographical region, but over time it evolved to describe the people from that region.