What Are People From Ottawa Called?

The name Ottawa is derived from the Algonquin word adawe, which means 'to trade.' This term was used to describe the Odawa (or Ottawa) people, an Anishinaabe nation who were renowned as skilled traders and middlemen in the regional fur trade. The Odawa people controlled the trade routes along the river that now bears their name, serving as a vital link between the interior of the continent and the European settlements to the east. Before the arrival of Europeans, the Algonquin people called the area Odàwàg, recognizing its importance as a commercial and cultural gathering place.

In the early 19th century, the settlement was known as Bytown, named after Colonel John By, the British engineer who oversaw the construction of the Rideau Canal. The canal was a massive military project designed to provide a secure supply route between Montreal and Kingston following the War of 1812. As the town grew into a major center for the lumber industry, it was incorporated as the City of Ottawa in 1855, reverting to the indigenous-inspired name of the river. In 1857, Queen Victoria selected Ottawa as the permanent capital of the Province of Canada, largely due to its defensible location and its position on the border between Upper and Lower Canada.

The demonym Ottawan identifies the residents of a city that has evolved from a rough-and-tumble lumber town into a sophisticated national capital. The etymology of Ottawa serves as a reminder of the city's deep roots in the indigenous trade networks that predated European colonization. Today, the name represents the heart of Canadian democracy, where the historic 'trading place' has become a center for national governance, diplomacy, and high-tech innovation.