'Angolan' originates from English, formed by adding the suffix '-an' to the country name 'Angola' (from Portuguese 'Angola'), where '-an' meant 'of, relating to, or a person from' and Kimbundu 'ngola' meant 'lord; ruler'.

'Angola' entered European languages via Portuguese during the colonial era; English later formed the adjective/noun 'Angolan' by attaching '-an' to 'Angola', yielding the modern English word 'Angolan'.

Initially, it meant 'of or from Angola' (adjective) and 'a person from Angola' (noun), and these meanings have remained stable in modern usage.