Washington, Oregon and California place-names

Introduction

George Vancouver visited Oregon and Washington 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 inlets and rivers. 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. Quite a few of Vancouver's names have not survived.

 

Links to similar pages

British Columbia 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

California, Oregon and Washington Pacific coastlines

Name of feature Nearby name derivatives Page in Lamb Van. Reasons
(Rocky Point)   Vol. 2, p. 489   Now known as Trinidad Head. The name Rocky Point has shifted to a headland 8 kilometres to the north.
Point St. George St. George Channel Vol. 2, p. 490   Sighted on 23 April 1792, St. George's Day.
(Dragon Rocks) Dragon Channel Vol. 2, p. 490   Now known as St. George Reef. The Dragon Channel runs though the reef.
(Cape Orford) Port Orford; Orford Reef Vol. 2, p. 491   The headland was already called Cape Blanco. The name Orford survives in Port Orford just south of Cape Blanco and in the Orford Reef, just off the coast. Vancouver refers to his friend George, the Earl of Orford. George Walpole was a soldier. His father would later become Earl of Orford but George died before he could inherit. Both events occurred after Vancouver's own death.
Grays Harbor       Robert Gray was an American fur trader in command of the Columbia. Vancouver met him at sea off the Washington coast on 29 April 1792. Gray continued north, looking for a safe harbour in which to anchor. On 07 May, he saw and entered the inlet now known as Gray's Harbor. Vancouver learned of Gray's discoveries at Nootka Sound.
Point Brown       The northern point of Grays Harbor. Captain John Brown was a naval captain, later an admiral.
(Point Hanson)       The name for the southern point of Grays Harbor was replaced by Point Chehalis. James Hanson began as lieutenant on the Chatham but Vancouver transferred him to be in command of the Daedalus, the storeship for the expedition after the death of Hergest in Hawai'i.
Point New        
Point Grenville Grenville Bay Vol. 2, p. 499   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.
(Duncan's Rock)   Vol. 2, p. 505   The name is no longer used. It is one of the rocks off Tatoosh Island off Cape Flattery. Charles Duncan was the master of the Princess Royal and had visited Cape Flattery in August 1788.

  Columbia River

The exploration of the Columbia River was carried out by William Robert Broughton from the Chatham. He led a survey party up the river in small boats and spent three weeks in late October 1792 making a very detailed and correct chart.

The Columbia River has undergone many changes since Broughton made his survey. Channels, sand banks and the size and shape of islands continually change as the river erodes material and deposits in different locations. As a result, many of the features that he surveyed and named no longer exist and others bear little resemblance to what he saw. Of the other features that he named, many have been renamed or original native names have been re-established. Some features, especially in modern conurbations such as Longview, Astoria and Portland have been drastically reshaped by man.

The Lewis & Clark's Columbia River webpage has an edited transcript of Broughton's log of his expedition up the Columbia River. There are also links to other descriptions of places along the river and some lovely photographs. A very interesting site.

 

Name of feature Nearby name derivatives Page in Lamb Van. Reasons
(Spit Bank)   Vol. 2, p. 747   The name was replaced by Sand Island. It is part of an island just inside Cape Disappointment at the river's mouth.
Baker Bay   (on chart only) B. Captain James Baker in the Jenny was already anchored here in the river when the Chatham arrived.
(James's River)       The name is no longer used, replaced by Chinook River. Captain James Baker in the Jenny was anchored near the river's mouth when the Chatham arrived.
(Point George)   Vol. 2, p. 747   The name is no longer used. Point George is now Smith Point in the city of Astoria.
Youngs River Youngs Bay Vol. 2, p. 750 B. Sir George Young (1732-1810) was a naval officer.
Tongue Point Tongue Neck Vol. 2, p. 748 B. Named because of its shape and how it sticks prominently out into the river.
Grays Bay Grays Point; Grays River. Vol. 2, p. 750 B. Robert Gray (1755-1806) was an American fur trader in command of the Columbia. Vancouver met him at sea off the Washington coast on 29 April 1792. In early April 1792, Gray had sighted what appeared to be a river, but the heavy seas made it impossible for him to enter and he had remained offshore for nine days. He returned and entered the river's mouth on 11 May 1792. The Columbia River was named after Gray's ship.
(Termination Island)   (on chart only)    
(Point Pillar)        
(Orchard's River)   Vol. 2, p. 752   The name was replaced by Skamokawa Creek. Henry Masterman Orchard was clerk on the Discovery.
(Marshy Islots)       Now known as Welsh and Tenasillahe Islands.
Puget Island   Vol. 2, p. 752 B. Peter Puget was a lieutenant on the expedition and would later command the Chatham.
(Bell's Point)   (on chart only)   The name was replaced by Nassa Point. Edward Bell was clerk on the Chatham.
(Swaine's River)   Vol. 2, p. 753   The name was replaced by Wallace Slough. Spelman Swaine served in various capacities on the Discovery and the Chatham. What Broughton named was the western entrances to Wallace Slough, which passes behind Wallace Island, a small island in the Columbia.
(Manby's River)   (on chart only)   The name was replaced by Wallace Slough. Thomas Manby was master of the Chatham at the time of Broughton's survey. What Broughton named was the eastern entrances to Wallace Slough, which passes behind Wallace Island, a small island in the Columbia.
(Baker's Islands)   Vol. 2, p. 753   The name was replaced by Crims Island. Joseph Baker was a lieutenant on the Discovery.
(Point Sherriff)   Vol. 2, p. 753   The name was replaced by Green Point. It was a promontory on the west bank of the river. John Sherriff was a master's mate on the Chatham.
Walker Island   Vol. 2, p. 754 B. William Walker was surgeon on the Chatham.
(Mount Coffin)   Vol. 2, p. 754   The hill was demolished to make way for port facilities in Longview, Washington. It was a hill to the east of the river which had served as a final resting place for dead bodies.
(Hut Creek)        
(River Poole)   Vol. 2, p. 754   The name is no longer used and it is impossible to identify to which side tributary on the northeatern shore it was applied. The reason for the name Poole is unknown.
(Knight's River)   Vol. 2, p. 754   The name was replaced by Cowlitz River. Sir John Knight (1747-1831) was a naval officer (captain 1781; admiral 1813) and surveyor. In 1776, Knight, together with William Broughton, was taken prisoner by the Americans. After several months on parole in Massachusetts, they were exchanged in December 1776.
(Burial Head)        
(Sandy Island)        
(Hartwell's River)       Sir Francis John Hartwell was a naval officer (captain 1779). The name is no longer used.
(Point Scott)   (on chart only)   James Woodward Scott was a midshipman on the Chatham. The name is no longer used.
(Urry's Islands)   Vol. 2, p. 755   The name was replaced by Martin and Burke Islands. Sir John Urry (?-1801) was a naval officer (captain 1768). His home was at Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight.
(Oak Point)   Vol. 2, p. 755   The point carries no name today. It is situated just north of Goering Slough on the east bank of the river. There were many oak trees there.
Warrior Point   Vol. 2, p. 755 B. The northern tip of Sauvie Island. Broughton encountered several war canoes here though the people soon proved very friendly.
(Rushleigh's River)   Vol. 2, p. 756   The name was replaced by Lewis River. It is not known who Rushleigh was.
(Call's River)   Vol. 2, p. 756   The name was replaced by Multnomah Channel. Sir John Call (1732-1801) worked for many years for the East India Company as a military engineer. He was also a politician.
(Whidbey's River)   Vol. 2, p. 762   The name was replaced by Bachelor Island Slough. Joseph Whidbey was master on the Discovery.
(Willow Point)   Vol. 2, p. 762   The name is no longer used. The point is on Sauvie Island near present-day Willow Bar Islands.
(River Munnings)   Vol. 2, p. 757   The name was replaced by Willamette River. It is not known who Munnings was (Broughton had used the name before in the Chatham Islands in New Zealand.
(Belle Vue Point)   Vol. 2, p. 757   The name was replaced by Kelley Point. Broughton descibed the view as a delightful prospect.
(Parting Point)   Vol. 2, p. 762   The name was replaced by Mathews Point. Broughton said farewell here to the local chief who had been friendly.
(Menzies Island)   Vol. 2, p. 757   The name was replaced by Hayden Island. Archibald Menzies was the botanist of the expedition. He had taken over as surgeon on the Discovery.
(Goose Island)   Vol. 2, p. 762   The name was replaced by Tomahawk Island. The island had large numbers of geese on it.
(Friendly Reach)   Vol. 2, p. 762   The name is no longer used. The stretch of river upstream of Menzies Island (Hayden Island) to Baring's River (Sandy River). Broughton named it for the friendly reception they had been given by local people.
(Baring's River)   Vol. 2, p. 757   The name was replaced by Sandy River. The reason for the name Baring is unknown.
(Johnstone's Island)       The name was replaced by Lady Island. James Johnstone was master on the Chatham.
(Possession Point)   Vol. 2, p. 757   The name is no longer used. The point is on the south bank of the river near where Sandy River enters, east of the city of Portland.
Mount Hood   Vol. 2, p. 760 B. Samuel Hood, first Viscount Hood (1724-1816) was a naval officer (captain 1756; admiral 1794). He was a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty from 1788 to 1794.
Point Vancouver   Vol. 2, p. 760 B. A point on the north shore of the Columbia River marking the point where Broughton turned and headed back downstream to the coast. Named after George Vancouver.
Vancouver Vancouver Lake     The city of Vancouver is situated on the north, Washington State, bank of the Columbia River opposite Portland. In 1825, John McLoughlin moved the northwestern headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company from Astoria upriver. He named the site Fort Vancouver after Point Vancouver on Broughton's original map. The name was later shortened to Vancouver.

  Strait of Juan de Fuca

Name of feature Nearby name derivatives Page in Lamb Van. Reasons
New Dungeness   Vol. 2, p. 510 V. Dungeness is a prominent headland on the Kent coast, southeast England and this spit obviously reminded Vancouver of it.
Protection Island   Vol. 2, p. 515   The island lies across the front of Port Discovery, affording protection to the inlet.
Port Discovery   Vol. 2, p. 515 V. HMS Discovery was Vancouver's ship.
Point Partridge   Vol. 2, p. 571   John Vancouver, George's brother married Martha Partridge so the naming probably honoured her.
Point Wilson   Vol. 2, p. 571 V. George Wilson was a naval officer (captain 1780; admiral 1809). He died in 1826.

  Inland Washington

Name of feature Nearby name derivatives Page in Lamb Van. Reasons
Mount Baker   Vol. 2, p. 510 V. Joseph Baker was the first to sight the mountain. He was 3rd lieutenant on the Discovery.
Mount Rainier   Vol. 2, p. 522 V. Peter Rainier (1741-1808) was a naval officer. He served with Broughton on the Burford in the 1780s.
Mount St. Helens   Vol. 2, p. 694 V. Alleyne Fitzherbert, Baron St Helens (1753-1839) was a diplomat. In May 1790, Fitzherbert was transferred to Madrid as British Ambassador to Spain to represent Britiain in the Nootka Sound affair, which almost brought Britain and Spain to war.

  Admiralty Inlet

Name of feature Nearby name derivatives Page in Lamb Van. Reasons
Admiralty Inlet   Vol. 2, p. 568 V. The inlet was named after the British Admiralty.
Point Hudson   (on chart only)   Thomas Hudson was a member of Colnett's expeditions to the Northwest Coast in 1787 and 1789. In 1789, he was master of the Princess Royal but he drowned at Hesquiat in 1790. The point is now in the town of Port Townsend.
Port Townsend   Vol. 2, p. 521 V. Thomas Manby's father was aide-de-camp to the Marquis of Townshend when the marquis was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. The families were neighbours and friends in west Norfolk. The marquis is believed to have helped Thomas Manby with early appointments in his naval career and Manby was here acknowledging that help. The name has subsequently lost its middle "h".
Marrowstone Point   Vol. 2, p. 522 V. The rock-type comprising the point resembled one known to Vancouver as marrowstone.
Oak Bay   Vol. 2, p. 523 V. The bay acquired its name as it had many oak trees.
Foulweather Bluff   Vol. 2, p. 571 V. Vancouver and his party had just experienced bad weather.
Hood Canal   Vol. 2, p. 529 V. Vancouver called it Hood's Channel after Samuel Hood, first Viscount Hood (1724-1816), who was a naval officer (captain 1756; admiral 1794). He was a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty from 1788 to 1794.
Hazel Point   Vol. 2, p. 525 V. There were many hazel trees on shore.
Whidbey Island   Vol. 2, p. 575 V. Joseph Whidbey was master of HMS Discovery, who led the surveys in the area and established it was an island.
Possession Sound Possession Point Vol. 2, p. 569 V. Vancouver took possession here of the region for Britain on 04 June 1792
Port Gardner   Vol. 2, p. 569 V. Admiral Alan Gardner, 1st Baron Gardner (17xx-1808) was a naval officer and a politician. He was in charge of the Jamaica station when Vancouver served there on the Europa. The two men were good friends. Gardner was also the uncle of Robert Barrie and Henry Humphrys, who were midshipmen on the voyage.
Port Susan   Vol. 2, p. 569   Susan Gardner was the wife of Alan Gardner (see entry above).
Penn Cove   Vol. 2, p. 568 V. Grenville Penn (1761-1844) was an author. He married Isabella Forbes, the daughter of General George Forbes. Penn lived in Petersham when Vancouver was writing up the narrative and was a witness to George Vancouver's will.
Point Forbes   (on chart only)   Isabella Forbes was the wife of Grenville Penn (see entry above).

  Puget Sound

Name of feature Nearby name derivatives Page in Lamb Van. Reasons
Puget Sound   Vol. 2, p. 558 V. Peter Puget was a lieutenant on board the Discovery. He led the survey of the large inlet and Vancouver honoured him by naming it after him.
Port Orchard   Vol. 2, p. 548 V. Henry Masterman Orchard was clerk on the Discovery and made the first exploration of the inlet.
Vashon Island   Vol. 2, p. 557 V. James Vashon (1742-1827) was a naval officer (captain 1782; admiral 1814). He commanded Vancouver in the West Indies. He was the uncle of Volant Vachon Ballard, a midshipman on the expedition.
Restoration Point   Vol. 2, p. 561 V. King Charles II had been restored to the throne on 29 May 1660. The Discovery was off the point on that date in 1792.

  Strait of Georgia (south of Vancouver)

Name of feature Nearby name derivatives Page in Lamb Van. Reasons
Strait of Georgia   Vol. 2, p. 569   Vancouver called it the Gulph of Georgia after King George III. The name was later changed to Strait.
Deception Pass   Vol. 2, p. 575 V. The narrow and islet-filled strait was difficult to see. Whidbey rowed through it, proving the land to the south was an island, which Vancouver had named after him.
Strawberry Bay   Vol. 2, p. 571 V. Broughton found lots of strawberries in the bay.
Cypress Island   Vol. 2, p. 573 V. There were many cypress trees on the island.
Bellingham Bay   Vol. 2, p. 594 V. Sir William Bellingham was Controller of Storekeepers' Accounts for the Navy Board from 1790 to 1796. He then became a Commissioner of the Navy Board until 1803. His wife was called Frances.
Point William   (on chart only)   Sir William Bellingham was Controller of Storekeepers' Accounts (see entry above).
Frances Point   (on chart only)   Frances Bellingham was the wife of Sir William Bellingham (see entry two above).
Birch Bay   Vol. 2, p. 595 V. The shores of the bay were covered with trees, especially black birch.
Point Roberts   Vol. 2, p. 578 V. Henry Roberts was a naval officer who had originally been appointed to command this expedition. He had been a colleague of Vancouver's on two of Cook's voyages.
New Georgia   Vol. 2, p. 561 V. Vancouver named the neighbouring part of the mainland after King George III but the name was never adopted.

 

Links to similar pages

British Columbia place-names. Alaska place-names.