'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' being formed to describe things related to Alaska.

Initially, it referred specifically to the landmass, but over time it evolved to describe anything related to the state of Alaska.