It’s a common misconception that the KU abbreviation stands for “Kansas University.” However, the University of Kansas is named after the Kaw people, who lived in the area when the first settlers arrived. The Kaw people’s name for themselves was “Kansa,” which is thought to be the origin of the state’s name.
The university was founded in 1865 as Kansas State Agricultural College, but it wasn’t until 1922 that it became known as KU. The school changed its name to reflect its growing reputation as a research university with national stature.
The name “Kansas” means “people of the south wind.” The Kansa were once a powerful Indian tribe that lived around present-day Topeka and Lawrence, Kansas. The tribe was part of an alliance with other tribes known as the Osage and Pawnee. They were also known as the “People of the Wind” because they lived on high ground where they could see far into the distance on clear days (unlike their enemies who lived on lowlands).
The University of Kansas has been around for more than 150 years. It’s one of the oldest universities in America and has a long history of being one of the top public research schools in the country. It’s also one of only two Big 12 Conference schools that has produced multiple Nobel Prize winners.
