# Where did the KKKs name come from? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 14, 2002, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-kkks-name-come-from/103526 "2002-04-14T03:42:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ganryu\_Kojiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Ganryu\_Kojiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ganryu_Kojiro)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-kkks-name-come-from/103526/1 "2002-04-14T03:42:13Z")
My friends and I were on the subject of the Ku Klux Klan today(we were making fun of them) and the issue of their name came up. Ku Klux Klan is a fairly strange name, and were wondering where it came from. I immediately thought to myself, “if only we had a few thousand intelligent people to pose the question to.” With that, I pose my question unto the Teeming Millions. I thank you all in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-kkks-name-come-from/103526/2 "2002-04-14T03:47:02Z")
[Cecil](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_196.html) says: > [@](#): > > Where does the name Ku Klux Klan come from? It seems the men who founded the original Klan were tossing out ideas for a name when somebody came up with kukloi, plural of the Greek kuklos, circle. Somebody else had the bright idea of twisting kuklos into Ku Klux. Klan was added later for alliteration, and they spelled it with a K rather than a C so as not to confuse the rank and file. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-kkks-name-come-from/103526/3 "2002-04-14T03:47:50Z")
😃 “origin name ku klux klan”. [http://www.kukluxklan.org/dis1d.html](http://www.kukluxklan.org/dis1d.html) > [@](#): > > Origin of the name Ku Klux Klan > The name Ku Klux Klan comes from the Greek work kuklos, meaning circle, wheel, or band. This name was chosen because in it is contained some of the unique characteristics of the White (or Aryan) race. The wheel is the best symbol of creativity; hence the creativity of the White race and the circle is the oldest symbol of unity. Kuklos thought about in this context simply means White Racial Brotherhood. Ku Klux was simply taken from the work kuklos and Klan was added. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-kkks-name-come-from/103526/4 "2002-04-14T03:49:25Z")
Cecil **AND** Google!! If we had a Snopes, it would be a trifecta! Or something. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-kkks-name-come-from/103526/5 "2002-04-14T03:50:08Z")
At least we know for double sure we’re right 😃 ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-kkks-name-come-from/103526/6 "2002-04-14T04:00:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LaurAnge \* > \*\*At least we know for double sure we’re right 😃 \*\* Don’t be so sure of yourselves. [Here](http://liquid2k.com/kfo/kuklap.html) is the real origin of the Ku Klux Klan’s name. The diabolical the little bastard! ---
**Author:** ![Ganryu\_Kojiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Ganryu\_Kojiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ganryu_Kojiro)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-kkks-name-come-from/103526/7 "2002-04-14T05:14:19Z")
Ah, how I adore the Teeming Millions! I knew you guys would come through for me. Guess I had a brain fart and forgot to check google. Thanks for your help. Oh, also, I did try a quick search of the archive, but for some reason didn’t come up with anything. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-kkks-name-come-from/103526/8 "2002-04-14T06:24:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose \* > \*\*Cecil **AND** Google!! If we had a Snopes, it would be a trifecta! > > Or something. > > 😃 \*\* Nothing on Snopes. Funny–typing that name into the search engine, I realized that I had never typed it before in my life. **DDG** , I blame _you_ for this petty corruption of my life! 🙂