The Taensa (also Taënsas, Tensas, Tensaw, and Grands Taensas in French) were a Native American people whose settlements at the time of European contact in the late 17th century were located in present-day Tensas Parish, Louisiana. The meaning of the name, which has the further spelling variants of "Taenso", "Tinsas", "Tenza" or "Tinza", "Tahensa" or "Takensa", and "Tenisaw", is unknown. It is believed to be an autonym. The Taensa should not be confused with the Avoyel (or Avoyelles), known by the French as the "petits Taensas" (English: Little Taensa), who were mentioned in writings by explorer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville in 1699. The Taensa are more closely related to the Natchez people and both are considered descendants of the late prehistoric Plaquemine culture.