European + Asian
The term "Eurasian" refers to people or things that are of mixed European and Asian descent or origin. The word is derived from combining the names of the two continents, "Europe" and "Asia", with the English suffix "-an".
The earliest recorded use of the term "Eurasian" dates back to 1844, when it was used to describe children of British-East Indian marriages. By the mid-19th century, the term was being used more broadly to refer to the mixed population of European and Asian descent.
The concept of "Eurasia" as a single, unified landmass comprising Europe and Asia also emerged around this time. The German geographer Karl Reuschle is sometimes credited with coining the term "Eurasia" in 1858, though the first known use in English appears to be from 1881. The idea of Eurasia as a distinct geographical entity was further developed by the Austrian geologist Eduard Suess in the 1880s.
Over time, the term "Eurasian" has taken on additional meanings. In the early 20th century, it was associated with a Russian intellectual movement that viewed Russia as a distinct civilization between Europe and Asia. More recently, the term has been used to describe the Eurasian Lynx, a species of wild cat found across Eurasia.
Today, "Eurasian" is most commonly used to refer to individuals of mixed European and Asian ancestry, particularly those with parents or ancestors from different ethnic backgrounds. The term is generally considered neutral and descriptive, though it can carry historical connotations depending on the context