Adopted 11 February 1936 on 92G/2, as labelled on British Admiralty Chart #1922, 1860 et seq, adjacent to "Derby or New Langley" [sic]

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

The site of Derby was on the south shore of the Fraser about 2 1/2 miles below the present Fort Langley building (now a museum). Here the original Fort was established in 1827 by Hudson's Bay Company Chief Trader James McMillan. Here too, in 1858, Governor James Douglas decided to establish the capital of the newly-created Crown Colony of British Columbia, and made his proclamation to that effect at Fort Yale, 15 September 1858. The name "Derby" had been given by townsite promoters, as the government did not use that name until it had become well-established in the public mind. Upon the arrival of Colonel R.C. Moody, RE, in December 1858, he disapproved of the site and eventually the capital was established at New Westminster.

Source: BC place name cards, files, correspondence and/or research by BC Chief Geographer/Geographical Names Office.

"I would imagine that the name commemorates the 15th Earl of Derby who held numerous public offices and was Secretary for the Colonies in 1858." (23 June 1926 letter from Geographic Board of Canada to BC Geographic Division.)

Source: BC place name cards, files, correspondence and/or research by BC Chief Geographer/Geographical Names Office.