'Algerian' originates from 'Algeria', specifically the name of the country, where 'Algiers' is the capital city.

'Algeria' changed from the Arabic word 'الجزائر' (al-Jazā'ir) meaning 'the islands', referring to the small islands off the coast of Algiers.

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