25 Most Unusual Demonyms: The Weirdest Names for People From Places
Discover the strangest demonyms in the English language—from Liverpudlians to Novocastrians. Learn the fascinating stories behind these unusual names for people from places.
Missourian
/mɪˈzʊəriən/
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The name Missouri comes from the Missouri tribe, a group of the Siouan language family. The tribal name is believed to mean "town of the large canoes" or "people with wooden canoes," from the Illinois language ouemessourita.
French explorers recorded the name as Missouri in the late 17th century, and it was applied to the river and the region. Missouri became the 24th state on August 10, 1821. The demonym Missourian is formed by adding -ian to the state name, following standard English practice.
This place has been connected to many influential figures throughout history.
Florida, Missouri
The pen name of Samuel Clemens, a world-renowned author and humorist known for 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.'
St. Louis, Missouri
A poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist best known for her series of seven autobiographies.
Lamar, Missouri
The 33rd President of the United States, who led the country through the final stages of World War II.
Diamond, Missouri
An agricultural scientist and inventor who promoted alternative crops to cotton and methods to prevent soil depletion.
Kennett, Missouri
A singer-songwriter and musician whose music incorporates elements of pop, rock, country, and blues.
Chicago, Illinois (Raised in Marceline, Missouri)
The pioneer of the American animation industry who introduced several developments in the production of cartoons.
Shawnee, Oklahoma (Raised in Springfield, Missouri)
An Academy Award-winning actor and film producer known for his roles in 'Fight Club' and 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.'
St. Louis, Missouri
A Hall of Fame baseball catcher, manager, and coach who won 10 World Series championships with the New York Yankees.
Other places in the region and their demonyms
Want to explore where Missourians live? Here's the atlas that does it best:
Highly detailed, stunning visuals
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Challenge yourself with our demonym quizzes and see how many you can get right!
Take a Quiz →Discover the strangest demonyms in the English language—from Liverpudlians to Novocastrians. Learn the fascinating stories behind these unusual names for people from places.
Explore the fascinating etymology behind demonyms. Learn how Greek, Latin, Germanic, and other language families shape the names we call people from different places.
Challenge yourself with our demonym quizzes and see how many you can get right!
Take a Quiz →Discover demonyms from other places in this region