Why We Are "Algierian": Bridging Algiers NOLA and Algerian Heritage

If you search for "Algerian clothing" online, you’ll find a world of vibrant colors and deep-rooted pride. If you walk the streets of Algiers, New Orleans, you’ll find the exact same thing.

Many people ask us about the spelling of our brand. Algierian is our way of claiming our territory, the historic Algiers community. But it’s also a nod to the broader Algerian aesthetic of resilience and bold identity. In this post, we dive into how the "West Bank" spirit mirrors the global Algerian movement of self-expression. We are more than a zip code; we are a cultural bridge.

How Did Algiers Get Its Name?

I know I’m not the only one who has ever wondered, “Where does the name Algiers come from?”

Like many people who grew up on the West Bank, I’ve always felt a deep connection to Algiers, but I never really knew the story behind its name. So I went down a research rabbit hole to learn more about the place that raised me. What I discovered was insightful, intriguing, and honestly, pretty powerful.

The Early Days of Algiers Point

Over 300 years ago, the area we now know as Algiers Point began as an encampment for French colonists. Back then, it wasn’t called Algiers at all. During its first century, the area went by several different names, including:

• The Company Plantation

• The King’s Plantation or King’s Domain

• Pointe St. Antoine or Punta San Antonio

• Duverjeville (starting in 1821)

It wasn’t until the 1830s that the name Algiers began to appear.

Interestingly, what we call Algiers today has also been referred to differently depending on the time period. The earliest French colonists called it the “left bank.” In the 1800s, it became known as the “right bank.” Today, we proudly call it the West Bank.

Not Quite a Neighborhood, Yet

Algiers Point is often described as the second-oldest neighborhood in New Orleans. However, in its early days, it wasn’t really a neighborhood at all.

It wasn’t part of the city of New Orleans, nor was it its own municipality. Instead, it was an unincorporated section of Orleans Parish. Beginning in 1840, it was governed by the Police Jury of the Parish of Orleans on the Right Bank of the Mississippi River.

By this time, people were increasingly referring to the area as Algiers, but where did that name come from?

Theories Behind the Name “Algiers”

There are several theories about how Algiers got its name. Some believe it was named after Africans who landed in the area. Others suggest a connection to piracy, or to the area’s position across the Mississippi River, similar to how the North African city of Algiers sits across the Mediterranean from France.

While these theories are interesting, many overlook an important historical clue.

In the late 1830s, about two miles downriver from Algiers Point, Pierre Cazalard’s plantation was subdivided and named Tunisburg, an area now around Odeon Avenue and Horace Street.

That detail matters because Tunis and Algiers are both major cities in North Africa, specifically in present-day Tunisia and Algeria. During that time, these places had captured the attention of Americans, especially New Orleanians, over the prior two decades.

This suggests that naming areas after North African cities wasn’t random.

A Name Rooted in Connection

While no one truly knows exactly how Algiers got its name, I can’t help but think about this possibility:

What if the Africans who arrived here felt like the land reminded them of home?

That thought alone is powerful.

Learning this history sparked something deeper for me, and it’s what ultimately inspired the creation of the Algierian brand. Algierian was created to represent our community, our roots, and the pride that comes with knowing where you’re from.

This story is bigger than a name. It’s about identity, culture, and connection.

Stay tuned for our next blog where I’ll share more about how Algierian was created. And as always, don’t forget to like, follow, and share for everything Algiers.