British Columbia place-names

Introduction

George Vancouver visited British Columbia in 1792, 1793 and 1794. During this time he and his men were the first to chart many parts of the coastline in detail, meticulously surveying most of the inlets of the complicated mainland and offshore islands. In doing so, Vancouver bestowed names on many features and these are listed below, together with explanations as to why the names were chosen. Vancouver sometimes gave a reason himself and other names are very obvious.

 

Links to similar pages

California, Washington and Oregon place-names. Alaska place-names.

 

Explanation of tables

Name of feature Nearby name derivatives Page in Lamb Van. Reasons
Column 1 gives the names provided by George Vancouver. They are in blue if the name is still in usage. They are in black and enclosed by brackets if the name is no longer in use. Column 2 lists features in the vicinity that have subsequently acquired a similar or variant name based on the name in column 1. Column 3 refers to the Hakluyt edition of Vancouver's journals, edited by W. Kaye Lamb and records the volume and page number if mention is made in the journals. Column 4 indicates there is evidence Vancouver himself gave the name. Column 5 provides background and reasons (if known) why the name was used.
 

The Place-names

Strait of Georgia (Vancouver and north)

Name of feature Nearby name derivatives Page in Lamb Van. Reasons
Strait of Georgia       King George III was king at the time and Vancouver named the stretch of water the Gulph of Georgia in his honour. The name changed later.
Sturgeon Bank   Vol. 2, p. 593 V. They bought lots of fish from local people at this location.
Point Grey   Vol. 2, p. 580 V. Hon Sir George Grey was a naval officer (captain 1793). He died in 1828.
Burrard Inlet   Vol. 2, p. 583 V. Sir Harry Burrard Neale (1765-1840) was a naval officer (captain 1793; admiral 1830) and politician.
Point Atkinson   Vol. 2, p. 583 V. This was named after an unexplained "particular friend" but the identity of the friend remains unknown.
Passage Island   Vol. 2, p. 583 V. The island lies in the centre of the eastern channel or passage into Howe Sound.
Anvil Island   Vol. 2, p. 584 V. Named after the "shape of the mountain that composes it".
Howe Sound   Vol. 2, p. 585 V. Richard Howe, Earl Howe (1726-1799) was a naval officer (captain 1746; admiral 1782). He was First Lord of the Admiralty from 1783 to 1788 and Admiral of the Fleet from 1796.
Point Gower   Vol. 2, p. 585   John Leveson-Gower (1740-1792) was a naval officer (captain 1760; rear admiral 1787) and politician. He was a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty from 1783 to 1789
Scotch Fir Point   Vol. 2, p. 590 V. The point was covered in what Vancouver called Scotch Fir trees.
Jervis Inlet   Vol. 2, p. 590 V. John Jervis, Earl of St Vincent (1735-1823) was a naval officer (captain 1760; admiral 1795). He was Admiral of the Fleet from 1821.
Point Upwood   Vol. 2, p. 591 V. Vancouver named this in "remembrance of an early friendship". Thomas Upwood, who lived at Lovells Hall, Terrington St. Clements, just to the west of King's Lynn may have been the intended person.
Point Marshall   Vol. 2, p. 598   The origin of the name remains unknown. A King's Lynn connection is suspected.
Savary Island   Vol. 2, p. 599   The origin of the name remains unknown. A King's Lynn connection is suspected.
Harwood's Island   Vol. 2, p. 599   John Harwood was a lawyer in King's Lynn, who handled Vancouver family matters.
Point Sarah   Vol. 2, p. 602   Sarah was one of George Vancouver's sisters.
Point Mary   Vol. 2, p. 602   Mary was one of George Vancouver's sisters.
Bute Inlet   Vol. 2, p. 605   John Stuart, John, 3rd Earl of Bute (1713-1792) was Prime Minister. His grandson Charles Stuart was a master's mate on the Discovery.
Stuart Island   Vol. 2, p. 609   John Stuart, John, 3rd Earl of Bute (1713-1792) was Prime Minister. His grandson Charles Stuart was a master's mate on the Discovery.
Desolation Sound   Vol. 2, p. 609   Named by Vancouver as "there was not a single prospect that was pleasing to the eye".
Cape Mudge   on chart only   Zachary Mudge was a lieutenant on board the Discovery. Vancouver sent Mudge back to Britain at the end of 1792 with dispatches on their progress, both in surveying and in negotiating with the Spanish.

  Johnstone Strait

Name of feature Nearby name derivatives Page in Lamb Van. Reasons
Johnstone Strait   Vol. 2, p. 616   James Johnstone began the voyage as master of but later became lieutenant on the Chatham. He led many of the survey parties, including the one that passed through this strait and established that Vancouver Island was an island.
Discovery Passage       The name honouring Vancouver's ship was bestowed at a later date.
Menzies Bay       The name honouring Archibald Menzies was bestowed at a later date.
Mount Menzies       The name honouring Archibald Menzies was bestowed at a later date.
Point Chatham   Vol. 2, p. 621   The point was named after the companion ship Chatham.
Thurlow Island   Vol. 2, p. 622   Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow (1731-1806) was a lawyer and politician. In 1778, Thurlow was created Baron Thurlow and became Lord Chancellor. He remained in office until 1793 when his rival, Baron Loughborough took over. It is actually two islands.
Loughborough Inlet   Vol. 2, p. 611   Alexander Wedderburn, 1st Earl of Rosslyn (1733-1805) was a lawyer and politician. He became Solicitor-General 1771 and was made Attorney-General in 1778. In 1780, became Chief Justice of the court of common pleas and was made Baron Loughborough. He succeeded his rival, Baron Thurlow, as Lord Chancellor in 1793. He was created Earl of Rosslyn in 1801.
Hardwicke Island   Vol. 2, p. 624   Philip Yorke, 3rd Earl of Hardwicke (1757-1834) was a politician. From 1790, he served as Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire. The Swaine family (Spelman Swaine was a midshipman on the voyage) was friends with the Yorkes.
Port Neville   Vol. 2, p. 616   Richard Aldworth Neville, 2nd Baron Braybrooke (1750-1825) was a politician. From 1762, he held the sinecure of Provost-Marshal of Jamaica, which may have brought him to the attention of Vancouver.

  Queen Charlotte Sound

Name of feature Nearby name derivatives Page in Lamb Van. Reasons
Call Inlet   Vol. 2, p. 633   Sir John Call (1732-1801) worked for many years for the East India Company as a military engineer. He was also a politician.
Knight Inlet   Vol. 2, p. 633   Captain 1781; admiral 1813 died 1831 ***
Broughton's Archipelago   Vol. 2, p. 634   William Robert Broughton was commander of the Chatham for the first two years of the expedition. He led the survey of the channels and islands here and Vancouver honoured him by calling the complex mass of islands after him.
Fife Passage   Vol. 2, p. 635   George Duff (1764-1805) was a naval officer. A branch of the Duff family were the Earls of Fife.
Point Duff   Vol. 2, p. 635   George Duff (1764-1805) was a naval officer (captain 1793). He was first lieutenant on the Europa in the West Indies with Vancouver. Duff commanded HMS Mars at Trafalgar where he was killed on 21 October 1805). Another branch of the Duff family were the Earls of Fife.
Point Gordon   Vol. 2, p. 635   Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon was a (1743-1827) was a politician and army officer. He was also a friend and patron of George Duff.
Deep Sea Bluff   Vol. 2, p. 634   This was the point where Broughton re-emerged from the channels behind the Broughton Archipelago back into open water of the Queen Charlotte Sound.
Point Philip   Vol. 2, p. 637   Sir Philip Stephens (1723-1809) was Secretary to the Admiralty for 32 years from 1763 to 1795. He was a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty from 1795 to 1806.
Mount Stephens   Vol. 2, p. 637   Sir Philip Stephens (1723-1809) was Secretary to the Admiralty for 32 years from 1763 to 1795. He was a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty from 1795 to 1806.
Wells Passage   Vol. 2, p. 638   Sir John Wells was a naval officer (captain 1783; admiral 1821). He died in 1841.
Boyles Point   Vol. 2, p. 639   Charles Boyles (1756-1816) was a naval officer (captain 1790; vice admiral 1814). He died in 1816.
Alleviation Island   Vol. 2, p. 616   The name did not appear on the chart and has not been retained. It possibly referred to Pine Island

  Fitz Hugh Sound

Name of feature Nearby name derivatives Page in Lamb Van. Reasons
Addenbroke Point   Vol. 2, p. 655   John Addenbrooke (born John Homfray) (1759-1827) was involved with his Homfray relatives in the iron industry of Shropshire. He was High Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1798.
Rivers Inlet Rivers Channel Vol. 2, p. 654   George Pitt, 1st Baron Rivers (1721-1803) was a politician and diplomat.
Cape Caution   Vol. 3, p. xxx   ***
Whidbey Point       The name honouring Joseph Whidbey was bestowed at a later date.

  Burke Channel

Name of feature Nearby name derivatives Page in Lamb Van. Reasons
Burke Channel   Vol. 3, p. 924 V. Edmund Burke (1729/30-1797) was a politician and writer. He was a close friend of James King, who had sailed with Vancouver on Cook's third voyage. Mrs Burke nursed James King near the end of his life.
Edmund Point   Vol. 3, p. 924 V. Edmund Burke (1729/30-1797) was a politician and writer. He was a close friend of James King, who had sailed with Vancouver on Cook's third voyage. Mrs Burke nursed James King near the end of his life.
Fisher Channel   Vol. 3, pp. 924-925   Captain Richard Fisher was captain of the Europa, Vancouver's ship, for eighteen months from late 1784 to mid- 1786 when he was declared insane. Previously, it has been suggested that the Rev. John Fisher (later Bishop of Salisbury) was being honoured but how and where Vancouver knew Fisher and why he would call him "a much-respected friend" has not been shown.
Port John       The name is no longer used. The reason for the name is unknown.
Walker Point   Vol. 3, p. 924   Named after William Walker, who was surgeon on the Chatham.
Edward Point   Vol. 3, p. 926   The reason for the name is unknown.
King Island   Vol. 3, p. 927   James King (1750-1784) was a naval officer. He sailed on Cook's third voyage with Vancouver and was in command of the Discovery at the end of that voyage. He was a friend of Edmund Burke.
Raphoe Point   Vol. 3, p. 929   James King's father, also James King (1714-1795) was a cleric who had become Dean of Raphoe in northern Ireland.
Dean Channel   Vol. 3, p. 929   James King's father, also James King (1714-1795) was a cleric who had become Dean of Raphoe in northern Ireland.
North Bentinck Arm   (on chart only)   William Bentinck (1764-1813) was a naval officer (captain 1783; vice admiral 1810). Bentinck was captain of the Assistance in 1783 when Menzies and Johnstone sailed with him.
South Bentinck Arm   (on chart only)   William Bentinck (1764-1813) was a naval officer (captain 1783; vice admiral 1810). Bentinck was captain of the Assistance in 1783 when Menzies and Johnstone sailed with him.
Menzies Point   Vol. 2, p. 656 V. Archibald Menzies (17xx-18zz) was the botanist and surgeon on Vancouver's expedition.
Cascade Inlet   Vol. 3, p. 930 V. Named as there were several large waterfalls in the inlet.
Restoration Bay   Vol. 3, p. 937 V. Vancouver had celebrated 29 May, Restoration Day, the anniversary of the return of the monarchy and installation of King Charles II in 1660 while they were in this cove.

  Milbanke Sound

Name of feature Nearby name derivatives Page in Lamb Van. Reasons
Carter Bay Carter River; Carter Lake. Vol. 3, pp. 947-948 V. John Carter was a seaman who accompanied Johnstone and Barrie on their survey. He and others ate poisoned mussels at Poison Cove off Mussel Inlet on 15 June 1793. Carter died several hours later in Carter Bay.
Mussel Inlet (Muscle Channel)   Vol. 3, pp. 947-948 V. John Carter was a seaman who accompanied Johnstone and Barrie on their survey. He and others ate poisoned mussels at Poison Cove off Mussel Inlet on 15 June 1793. Carter died several hours later in Carter Bay.
Poison Cove   Vol. 3, pp. 947-948 V. John Carter was a seaman who accompanied Johnstone and Barrie on their survey. He and others ate poisoned mussels at Poison Cove off Mussel Inlet on 15 June 1793. Carter died several hours later in Carter Bay.
Cape Swaine   Vol. 3, p. 951 V. Spelman Swaine was a midshipman on the expedition.
Day Point   Vol. 3, p. 952   ****

Nepean Sound

Name of feature Nearby name derivatives Page in Lamb Van. Reasons
Gardner Canal Alan Reach; Barrie Reach; Whidbey Reach; Courageux Point; Europa Reach; Europa Lake; Europa Creek; Europa Point; Vol. 3, p. 961 V. Sir Alan Gardner ***
Point Staniforth   Vol. 3, p. 960   Named by Joseph Whidbey, possibly after John Staniforth, a shipowner in Hull and also MP for Hull.
Hawkesbury Island   Vol. 3, p. 965 V. Charles Jenkinson, 1st Earl of Liverpool (1729-1808) was a politician. He was active in promoting foreign trade and for several years was President of the Board of Trade. Created Baron Hawkesbury in 1786, he was further elevated in 1796 when he became Earl of Liverpool.
Point Hopkins   Vol. 3, p. 962   The name is no longer used. *** Richard Hopkins (1728-1799) was a politician. He was a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty from 1782 to 1783 and again from 1784 to 1791.
Point Ashton   Vol. 3, p. 964   Named by Joseph Whidbey but it is not known whom he was honouring.
Princess Royal Island   Vol. 3, p. 1063   Charlotte Augusta Matilda, Princess Royal (1766-1828) was the 4th child and 1st daughter of King George III and Queen Charlotte. She married Prince Friedrich of Württemberg on 18 May 1797. A sea otter fur trading vessel called the Princess Royal, commanded by Charles Duncan, had sailed in these waters in the late 1780s.
Point Cumming   Vol. 3, p. 965   Alexander Cumming (1731/2-1814) was watch and instrument maker in London, who supplied the Navy.
Pitt Island (Archipelago)   Vol. 3, p. 976 V. William Pitt (known as Pitt the younger) (1759-1806) was a politician. He was Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1783 to 1801 and from 1804 to 1806.
Grenville Channel (Canal)   Vol. 3, p. 978 V. William Wyndham Grenville, Baron Grenville (1759-1834) was a politician. He was son of Prime Minister, George Grenville, and was, himself, Prime Minister from 1806 to 1807. He was a close colleague of William Pitt during the 1780s and 1790s and was Foreign Secretary from 1791 to 1801. He was the uncle of midshipman Pitt, who proved so troublesome to Vancouver on the voyage.

  Chatham Sound

Name of feature Nearby name derivatives Page in Lamb Van. Reasons
Chatham Sound       ****
Port Essington   Vol. 3, p. 974 V. Sir William Essington (?-1816) was a naval officer (captain 1783; vice admiral 1810). He commanded HMS Sceptre, which accompanied the Discovery north from St. Helena near the end of the voyage. Essington was later in command of Triumph at the Battle of Camperdown in October 1797.
Fisherman's Cove   Vol. 3, p. 979 V. Named after success procuring fish there.
Point Lambert   Vol. 3, p. 973   Vancouver refers to Lambert being a Commissioner of the Navy but neither the Navy Board nor Admiralty list anyone called Lambert in their lists of employees. Nor are there any on the list of Commissioned Officers. He may possibly have been Aylmer Bourke Lambert (1761-1842), a botanist associated with the Linnean Society and, therefore, known to Menzies. The name is no longer used. ***
Hunt Point   Vol. 3, p. 975   ****
Point Pearce   Vol. 3, p. 976   Pearce may have been William Pearce, an Extra Clerk at the Admiralty from 1778 to 1795 and then Clerk from 1795 to 1800. The name is no longer used
Ibbetson Point   Vol. 3, p. 976 V. John Ibbetson worked at the Admiralty from 1755 and was second Secretary to the Admiralty from 1783 to 1795, when he retired.
Raspberry Island   Vol. 3, p. 973   Named for the large number of berries collected there.
Brown Passage Butterworth Rocks, Jackal Point, Prince Leboo Island. Vol. 3, p. 983   Captain William Brown was commander of the Butterworth, which Vancouver found anchored here. There were also two companion vessels, the Jackal and the Prince Le Boo.
Stephens Island Stephens Pass; Mount Stephens. Vol. 3, p. 978 V. Sir Philip Stephens (1723-1809) was Secretary to the Admiralty for 32 years from 1763 to 1795. He was a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty from 1795 to 1806.
Dundas Island Mount Henry Vol. 3, p. 984 V. Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville (1742-1811) was a politician He was Treasurer of the Navy from 1782 to 1783 and from 1784 to 1800.
Isle de Zayas   (on chart only)   A name from Caamano's map. Zayas was a Spanish pilot and surveyor.

  Portland Canal and Observatory Inlet

Name of feature Nearby name derivatives Page in Lamb Van. Reasons
Portland Canal Portland Inlet Vol. 3, p. 1022 V. Named after the Portland family. William Henry Cavendish Cavendish-Bentinck (1738-1809), a politician, was 3rd Duke of Portland at the time. He had been Prime Minister in 1783.
Cape Fox Fox Island; Fox Hill Vol. 3, p. 1001 V. Charles James Fox (1749-1806) was a politician.
Foggy Point   Vol. 3, p. 1001 V. It was raining and the weather most unpleasant when Vancouver passed this point.
Wales Point Wales Island; Wales Passage; Wales Harbor Vol. 3, p. 1030 V. William Wales (17xx-18xx) was an astronomer and teacher. He sailed on Cook's second voyage and taught Vancouver much about astronomy. They became friends. Wales later taught at Christs Hospital School.
Maskelyne Island   Vol. 3, p. 985 V. Nevil Maskelyne (1732-1811) was an astronomer and mathematician. He was Astronomer Royal for 46 years from 1765 until his death. Vancouver actually named Point Maskelyne on the island.
Ramsden Point   Vol. 3, p. 993 V. Jesse Ramsden (1735-1800) was a maker of scientific instruments, especially astronomical, and some of the instruments carried on Vancouver's expedition were from Ramsden.
Observatory Inlet   Vol. 3, p. 1026 V. Whidbey set up an observatory and made many astronomical readings and calculations here.
Salmon Cove   Vol. 3, p. 1026 V. Many salmon were caught here.

  Queen Charlotte Islands

Name of feature Nearby name derivatives Page in Lamb Van. Reasons
Cape North   Vol. 3, p. 1069   It is Langara Point on Langara Island.
(Point)Frederick Island   Vol. 3, p. 1069   Vancouver named the point; the name is retained for the island.
Cape Henry   Vol. 3, p. 1070 V. Sir Henry Charles Englefield (c.1752-1822) was an antiquary and writer.
Englefield Bay   Vol. 3, p. 1070 V. Sir Henry Charles Englefield (c.1752-1822) was an antiquary and writer.
Buck Point   Vol. 3, p. 1070  
Cartwright Sound   Vol. 3, p. 1070   John Cartwright (1740-1824) was a naval officer who became a social and political reformer.
Hunter Point   Vol. 3, p. 1070 V. Sir John Hunter (1754-1809) was a physician and surgeon. He carried out research into the cause of 'Dry-belly-ache' in troops in Jamaica in the early 1780s, the same time as when Vancouver was based there.

  Nootka Sound and Vancouver Island

Name of feature Nearby name derivatives Page in Lamb Van. Reasons
Quadra and Vancouver Island   Vol. 2, p. 672   Vancouver had shown this to be an island and in the spirit of the friendship between him and his Spanish counterpart, Bodega y Quadra, called it Quadra and Vancouver Island. However, the full name never stuck and was quickly shortened to just Vancouver Island.

 

Links to similar pages

California, Washington and Oregon place-names. Alaska place-names.