Origin of the name Arkansas

Many names of places in our state come from the languages of the explorers who discovered and lived in Arkansas. The Native Americans, Spanish, French, and Americans all helped name places in our state. The word ARKANSAS came from the Quapaw Indians, by way of early French explorers.

The explorers met a group of Native Americans, known as the UGAKHPAH, which means PEOPLE WHO LIVE DOWNSTREAM. These Native Americans were later called the QUAPAW, who were also called the ARKANSAW. This name came to be used for the land where these Native Americans lived.

(This information comes from the booklet "Arkansas" published by Secretary of State Charlie Daniels and used in classrooms in the state. My third grade daughter and kindergarten daughter have both studied this book recently.)