'Canadian' originates from English, specifically the word 'Canada', where 'Canada' comes from the St. Lawrence Iroquoian word 'kanata' meaning 'village' or 'settlement'.

'Canadian' was formed in Modern English by adding the suffix '-an' to 'Canada'. 'Canada' entered English via French 'Canada', which itself came from the Iroquoian 'kanata'.

Initially it referred to people or places associated with the area called 'Canada' (from 'kanata' meaning 'village'), and it has retained the general meaning of 'relating to Canada' or 'a person from Canada'.