'Arkansan' originates from English, specifically formed from the place name 'Arkansas' plus the demonym-forming suffix '-an', where '-an' conveyed 'belonging to or originating from'.

'Arkansan' developed from the placename 'Arkansas' (itself from French renderings such as 'Arcansas'), which came from a Native American name for the local people often recorded as 'akansa' or similar forms; English added the suffix '-an' to create the demonym 'Arkansan'.

Initially it denoted a person from the place called 'Arkansas' and over time retained that core meaning as a noun for a resident and as an adjective describing relation to the state.