'Caucasian' originates from the Caucasus region, specifically the word 'Caucasus,' where 'Caucasus' referred to the mountain range between Europe and Asia.

'Caucasian' was used in the 18th century to describe people from the Caucasus region and eventually became a term for a racial classification.

Initially, it referred to people from the Caucasus region, but over time it evolved into a broader racial classification.