re: Went too deep in to google. Found out we ain't supposed to say coonass

The story I heard was that it came about during WWI among the US troops serving in France. The American officers learned that the french speaking Cajuns in their company could act as their translators. However, helping officers was looked down on by fellow enlisted men due to the officers having little regard for the troops. So the enlisted men started using the french word for bitch, "connasse", to mock the cajuns.

When I was young, calling someone a coonass was fightin words. So it was not viewed as a "badge of honor" and everyone from south Louisiana didn't claim to be a coonass. Only the "Prarie French" were considered coonass. Later on it achieved the "badge of honor" status as the cajun cuisine became popular and people outside of Louisiana became fascinated with the people and culture. So as time went on, I thought everyone became cool with it. Not so. I was having lunch with an older Louisianaian one day. I was telling a story on myself (can't remember the exact reference) but I closed the story with, "Only a coonass". I literally thought I was going to have to fight the guy.

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It's from "connasse" - a very derogatory term that the Spanish called the French when Spain ruled Louisiana.

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There's some debate about that. I've seen claims that the origin is the Attakapas word cunaso, meaning one who lives off the land.